Water Efficiency: The Next Generation

The report examines a range of high-efficiency fixtures and systems to reduce residential water use. It highlights the potential of dual-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads and faucets, graywater recycling, composting toilets, and rainwater collection. The author argues that while the 1992 U.S. standards significantly reduced per-capita indoor water use, further gains can be achieved through technology and native landscaping, while raising broader questions about sustainability and growth.

• The 1992 National Plumbing Standards in the U.S. enabled an average household to lower per-capita indoor water use from over 70 gallons per day to approximately 50 gallons per day.
• Dual-flush toilets, such as the 6/3-liter cistern standard used in most areas of Australia, can reduce water consumption by 40% compared to the 1.6-gallon-per-flush U.S. standard and 80% compared to the average 5-gallon-per-flush American toilet.
• Graywater systems, which reuse drain water from showers, sinks, and washing machines, can reduce a home's total water consumption by 50%. A study by the City of Los Angeles indicated that such systems do not significantly increase dangerous bacteria in the soil.
• Composting toilets can eliminate the 28% of indoor residential water consumption typically used by flush toilets, making them suitable for remote areas or sites without septic systems.
• Landscaping accounts for approximately half of residential water consumption; transitioning to native plants can reduce this use and decrease the energy and chemicals required for water treatment and pumping.

APA

Chaplin, S. (1998). Water Efficiency: The Next Generation. RMI. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_W98-07_WatEffNxtGen.pdf

Chicago

Chaplin, Scott. Water Efficiency: The Next Generation. RMI, 1998. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_W98-07_WatEffNxtGen.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Chaplin |first1=Scott |title=Water Efficiency: The Next Generation |publisher=RMI |date=1998 |url=https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_W98-07_WatEffNxtGen.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chaplin1998water, author = {Chaplin, Scott}, title = {{Water Efficiency: The Next Generation}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {1998}, url = {https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_W98-07_WatEffNxtGen.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }