Water-Saving Toilets Offered in Exchange for Old Models

Free water-saving toilets will be available Saturday at North Hollywood High School for those willing to replace and recycle their old toilets.

The water-saving toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush, compared with five to seven gallons per flush for traditional toilets. There will be 1,500 toilets available for first-time participants in the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Toilet Program, said Pamela Broadous of Calvary Baptist Homes, one of the event’s sponsors.

To receive the new toilets, residents must bring their current DWP water bill, up-to-date identification and written permission from the owner if they are renters. Recipients of the low-flush toilets must install it and return the old toilet for recycling by June 5.

The old toilets are turned in to DWP for rebates. All proceeds will go to another event sponsor, the North Hollywood High baseball team, which will use the money for new uniforms and equipment.

Broadous said residents do not have to be plumbers to figure out how to install the toilets: Instructions are included.

“I could even do it,” Broadous said. “It’s a pretty simple process. Just take the two bolts out, and undo the supply line. It can be done in as short a time as 30 minutes.”

Broadous said residents save about $55 per year per toilet. She said potential savings are especially big for apartment buildings.

“In an apartment with 100 units, and two toilets apiece, that is a pretty big savings,” she said.

The water-conserving toilets will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Hollywood High School, 5231 Colfax Ave.

Broadous stressed that old toilets must be turned in for the baseball team to be compensated.

For more information, call (818) 686-0143.