Water Use

[rpm]

I was just reading in the paper that the Federal government here in Canada is mulling regulations on water use of household appliances.
The article talks about limits on the water flowing through plumbing fixtures like toilets,showerheads and dishwashers.
An early candidate for regulation is spray valves on dishwashers.
How would that work?
If you limited the water to the machine wouldn't it just suck air?
Or is this the idea of those machines where only the top sprays and then alternates to the bottom?

 

[andrewinorlando]

Are there water shortages currently in any areas of Canada or are they just planning for future growth?

 

[pushtorelease]

hmmm....considering we don't even have residential water meters in Vancouver, I think they must be planning for the future.... far off in the future.

 

[brisnat81]

I would assume future planning

In Brisbane now, all tap fittings for Basins, Showers, sinks, toilets etc all have maximum flow ratings that are allowed in new installations.

Handbasins are 8L/min, Showers are 7.5-9L/Minute, Kitchen sinks are 12L/min. Toilets are now supposed to be 4.5L/3L dual flush.

We made the change about 2 years ago, and with mid priced good quality fittings, we dont notice any difference.

Our Government left the change until we were critically short of water, so if Canada is getting in early, that sounds great. It's not just the fresh water that is input, its what you do with the black/grey water at the treatment plant.

Appliances here are provided with a rebate if they have a 4 star water rating. This works out to a Dishwasher that uses around 9-13L on a normal cycle and a Washing machine that uses approx 10L of water per KG. Both of them can have cycles that use more water, its only the normal cycle that has to meet the requirements.

 

[mattl]

Hmmm, no more smuggling toilets over the border. The the low volume flush toilets first came out, a number of people from MI would go to Windsor to buy their new toilets.

While the new designs are much improved there is no way I'd replace my 40 year old toilets with one.