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Starting in January 2011, all toilets sold in Ontario will be low-flush, using no more than 6 L (1.6 gal) of water per flush.

The Ontario government is proposing all toilets sold in the province use no more than 6 L (1.6 gal) of water per flush. This would promote conservation and lower household bills for families, according to Lindsay Davidson, Ministry of the Environment (MOE) spokesperson.

Toilet flushing accounts for 30 per cent of in-home water use. Replacing a 13-Lpf (3.4-gpf) toilet with a more efficient 6-L or less model saves an average household about 35,000 L (9246 gal) of water annually, translating into cost savings of approximately $70 per household.

Mandating water-saving toilets would support the Water Opportunities Act, which is part of the new Open Ontario plan. This act, to be introduced later this year, will build on Ontario's expertise in clean-water technology.

Ralph Suppa, the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating's (CIPH's) president and general manager, said Canada is the last known first-world country that still allows using 13-Lpf toilets.

"Water conservation is becoming necessary in Canada as proven by a number of municipalities who are creating their own bylaws to mandate 6 Lpf or less water closets as a method of dealing with aging (and growing) infrastructure," he said. "Individual bylaws create non-uniformity for manufacturers, wholesaler distributors, retailers, and inspectors. In addition, they adsorb precious municipal budgets to develop."

The government will be developing and releasing a proposed regulation this spring. It is estimated those marketing regular toilets will have until January 1, 2011 to sell them.