<p>[[{"fid":"76","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"style":"float:left;margin:0 5px 5px 0;","alt":"Toilet","class":"adaptive-image media-element file-default"}}]]More than 45% of water use in the average American home occurs in the bathroom, with nearly 27% being used by toilets.&nbsp; Fortunately, your household can significantly curb its toilet water usage by regularly checking for and fixing leaks, retrofitting older toilets, or installing a new toilet.</p><h2>High Efficiency Toilets (HETs)</h2><p><a href="http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/products/toilets.html">[[{"fid":"58","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"style":"float:right;margin:0 0 5px 5px;","alt":"watersense toilets","class":"adaptive-image media-element file-default"}}]]WaterSense</a> (think <a href="http://www.energystar.gov/">EnergyStar</a>, only water), has made choosing a high quality toilet simple with its labeling system.&nbsp; To earn this label, <a href="http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/products/toilets.html">toilets</a> must meet rigorous <a href="http://www.map-testing.com/">criteria</a> for performance and must use no more than 1.28 GPF. Only HETs that complete the third-party certification process can earn the WaterSense label.</p><h2>How much water toilets use per flush</h2><p>Toilet water use can vary significantly.&nbsp; Older toilets can use 3.5, 5, or even up to 7 gallons of water with every flush.&nbsp; Federal plumbing standards now specify that new toilets can only use up to 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF), and there are high efficiency toilets that use up to 1.28 GPF.</p><p><strong>Replacing an older model toilet with a new </strong><strong>low-flow (1.6 GPF) or high efficiency toilet (1.28 GPF) can </strong><strong>greatly affect your household&#39;s total water usage.<strong> </strong></strong></p><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="72%"><tbody><tr><td width="33%"><h3>Toilet<br />Consumption</h3></td><td width="33%"><h3>Average Flushes<br />Per Day</h3></td><td width="33%"><h3>Estimated Gallons Used<br />Per Person Per Year</h3></td></tr><tr><td width="33%"><p align="center">7 GPF</p></td><td width="33%"><p align="center">5*</p></td><td width="33%"><p align="center">12,775</p></td></tr><tr><td width="33%"><p align="center">&nbsp;5 GPF</p></td><td width="33%"><p align="center">5*</p></td><td width="33%"><p align="center">9,125</p></td></tr><tr><td width="33%"><p align="center">&nbsp;3.5 GPF</p></td><td width="33%"><p align="center">5*</p></td><td width="33%"><p align="center">6,388</p></td></tr><tr><td width="33%"><p align="center">&nbsp;1.6 GPF</p></td><td width="33%"><p align="center">5*</p></td><td width="33%"><p align="center">2,920</p></td></tr><tr><td width="33%"><p align="center">1.28 GPF</p></td><td width="33%"><p align="center">5*</p></td><td width="33%"><p align="center">2,336</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>* American Water Works Association</p><p>Not sure about the how much water your toilet uses per flush?&nbsp; Oftentimes, manufacturers stamp their toilet&#39;s water usage per flush on the inside of the tank or on the &quot;neck&quot; of the toilet bowl. &nbsp;If you cannot find your toilet&#39;s water use stamp, then determining its age is your key to its water use.&nbsp; Federal plumbing standards passed in 1992 required that toilets use no more than 1.6 GPF, so if your toilet was installed prior to 1992, then it likely uses 3.5-7 GPF.</p>