Water Efficiency: The Next Generation

This 1998 report by the Rocky Mountain Institute examines water-saving technologies and practices for residential use, moving beyond the 1992 National Plumbing Standards to explore high-efficiency fixtures, graywater and rainwater systems, and sustainable landscaping.

• The 1992 National Plumbing Standards significantly reduced indoor water use, lowering average per-capita daily consumption from over 70 gallons to approximately 50 gallons.
• Dual-flush toilets, such as the 6/3-liter cistern used in Australia, can reduce water consumption by 80 percent compared to the average 5-gallon-per-flush American toilet and by 40 percent compared to the 1.6-gallon standard.
• Graywater systems, which recycle drain water from showers, sinks, and washing machines, can reduce a home's total water consumption by 50 percent. A City of Los Angeles study indicated that such systems do not significantly increase dangerous bacteria in the soil.
• Composting toilets can eliminate the need for the 28 percent of indoor residential water consumption typically used by flush toilets, making them suitable for remote areas or sites where septic systems are not feasible.
• Landscaping accounts for approximately half of the water consumed in the residential sector; transitioning to native plants can reduce this consumption and the associated energy and chemical inputs 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} }