Charlottetown pushes low-flow toilet rebate

The City of Charlottetown is introducing new measures to help residents conserve water, including an incentive for homeowners to upgrade their toilets.

City officials say older models of toilets use at least 12 litres of water per flush, while modern ones operate with six litres or less.

"You see fairly major changes with replacements of toilets in homes. It's one of the largest water users in the household and you can dramatically reduce the amount of water that gets consumed," said Craig Walker of Charlottetown's Sewer and Water Department.

The city is offering a rebate to anyone upgrading an older toilet for a new low-flow model. Residents can save up to $75 in addition to a 15 per cent rebate offered by the province.

Two years ago Miltonvale Park became the first community on P.E.I. to offer a toilet incentive. There have been just 15 takers so far, but council member Hal Parker said more should make the switch.

'It's all about engineering'

"The older ones swirled a lot — this one just goes straight out," said Parker. "It's all about engineering."

In 2010, Charlottetown pumped out 6.7 billion litres of water. That's about full capacity and officials said conservation is now the key.

Edward Rice, chairman of the city's water and sewer utility, said incentives could turn to prohibitions and penalties if more people don't switch to low-flow toilets.

"I'd say in the near future we're going to have to do a bit more and enforce it for those that have to be brought along," he said.

The low-flow toilet rebate program starts May 16 and has funding for 150 rebates.