Flush With Pride: World Toilet Day Wednesday

Photo Credit: Laura Ritchie/Flickr

Staff Report

It’s a seat in your home that gets regular visits, but is rarely celebrated. Except for one day a year: World Toilet Day on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

Across the globe, organizations like the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management are asking customers to perform toilet inspections. This year, the local water facilities are also raising alarm about troublesome “flushable” wipes.

Atlanta and municipalities across the world are experiencing higher costs for wastewater collection and treatment due to increased sewer blockages and solid waste volume from sanitary or cleaning wipes advertised as disposable or flushable.

“Disposable wipes are not what they claim, and they cause major problems for sewer systems everywhere,” Commissioner Jo Ann Macrina said. “If you must use wipes, dispose of them in the trash can. Doing so can save water and money.”

After its own testing, Consumer Reports says, “Don’t flush flushable wipes.”

A household toilet inspection can be performed with dye or food coloring: if dye poured into the tank appears in the bowl without a flush, the toilet may have a leak. Replacing the flapper valve usually resolves the leak. Water-saver kits with dye tablets are available at any City of Atlanta fire station at no cost to residents.

The Saving Water Partnership has tips on How to Test Your Toilet for Leaks.

For more information on World Toilet Day, visit the United Nations’ page at www.unwater.org/worldtoiletday

The City of Atlanta is a partner in the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District toilet rebate program, which provides a $100 water bill credit for property owners who install WaterSense low-flow toilets in place of models installed prior to 1993. The program is available to both residential and multi-family properties.

“The average person flushes five times per day, and many older toilets use up to 5.5 gallons per flush,” Macrina said. “New technology has reduced this footprint to 1.28 gallons per flush. Every man, woman and child can conserve up to 7,500 gallons per year if each of us does our part.”