| The bathroom and toilet cistern make up over 40% | | | | further waste of water. If you are still unsure after |
| of the total water usage for the average household. | | | | carrying out this test, contact a plumbing service for |
| By carrying out a few simple tests you can find out | | | | more information. |
| whether your toilet cistern is using more water than | | | | 2. Install a dual flush cistern |
| necessary, and if it is take steps to reduce your | | | | A dual flush toilet cistern is a unit that has two |
| water usage and save money. | | | | buttons - one for a full flush and a second for a half |
| 1. Fix toilet cistern leaks | | | | flush. Though the planning regulations in many |
| A leaking toilet cistern can waste large amounts of | | | | countries now require that all new houses and |
| water - more than 12 liters an hour. This quickly adds | | | | apartments install dual flush units, most older houses |
| up to a significant amount of water especially if not | | | | and apartments will not have them. Older toilet |
| noticed or ignored. Households should check for leaks | | | | cisterns are much less water efficient and will use |
| and if any are discovered be vigilant in fixing them, if | | | | about ten liters of water per flush. By comparison, |
| necessary by a plumber. | | | | more modern units will use between four and six |
| A leaking toilet cistern will often make a constant | | | | liters for a full flush or three liters for a half flush. |
| humming sound as the toilet is forced to keep taking | | | | It is easy to measure how much water your toilet |
| in more water to replace the water that escapes | | | | cistern uses. Turn off the water supply using the tap |
| through the leak. This is not always the case though | | | | found behind or under the bowl. If this tap cannot be |
| or may not be heard, allowing water to leak | | | | located or is still leaking, turn off the main water |
| imperceptibly and unnoticed against the white | | | | supply to the house. Remove the lid (note that with |
| porcelain of the toilet bowl. If you suspect that your | | | | some units it may be necessary to unscrew the flush |
| toilet cistern is leaking, a DIY test you can do to | | | | button to do this) and mark the level of water using |
| check this is to remove the cistern lid and put in a | | | | a waterproof marker or tape. Press the flush button |
| few drops of food dye. If colored water appears in | | | | and allow the toilet cistern to empty. As you have |
| the bowl before you flush, then there is a leak. | | | | turned the water supply off it will not refill |
| Alternatively, hold a piece of toilet paper against the | | | | automatically. Refill the manually using a measuring jug |
| back of the inside of the bowl. If it gets wet it would | | | | or bottle, counting the number of liters required to fill |
| again indicate that you have a leak. In the event that | | | | the toilet cistern back to the marked line. Don't |
| a leak is discovered leaking toilet cistern repair should | | | | forget to turn the water supply back on when |
| be carried out as soon as possible to avoid any | | | | finished! |