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<br />monitored for two weeks each over a 20-month period. A flush meter was <br />installed in each toilet in participants' homes. Based on the data collected, <br />an average rate of four toilet flushes per person per day was determined. <br />The study also found an average of 1.8 toilets per household. The Arvada <br />Planning Department estimates 2.8 persons per household in Arvada as of <br />1989. This implies that each toilet is flushed 6.2 times per day. Combining <br />this figure with information on gallons per flush results in an estimate of <br />water use per toilet as follows: <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Gallons per <br />Flush <br /> <br />Water Use per <br />Toilet Per Day <br /> <br />Non-Conserving Toilet <br />Low-F lush Toilet <br />Ultra-Low-Flush <br /> <br />5.5 <br />3.5 <br />1.5 <br /> <br />34.2 <br />21.8 <br />9.3 <br /> <br />The figures are for residential installations. The same data will be used for <br />commercial installations as an estimate of usage. There is no known <br />research on commercial toilet usage. <br /> <br />. Direct Cost and Lifetime <br /> <br />An estimate of the capital cost, installation cost, operations and <br />maintenance costs, and life expectancy was obtained by contacting local <br />distributors of toilets. The cost of ultra-low-flush toilets has been dropping <br />as more manufacturers sell more of these units, and as more states and local <br />governments mandate their installation. The incremental cost is the <br />difference between the cost of ultra-low-flush toilets (Type 1. $120 retail, <br />$75 wholesale; Type 2. $280 retail, $190 wholesale) and comparable low-flush <br />toilets ($90 retail, $50 wholesale). The installation cost is $40 (J hour X <br />$40/hour). A life expectancy of 25 years is expected for ultra-Low-flush <br />toilets. <br /> <br />. Market Penetration <br /> <br />Ultra-low-f1ush toilets are a relatively new technology. The current <br />saturation of this technology in existing Arvada homes and buildings is nearly <br />zero. Similarly, very few new homes or buildings built today install ultra- <br />low-flush toilets. The estimated saturation of this technology in Arvada <br /> <br />_ _______ __i~J:~!Q~ _______________________________________ ---- <br /> <br />A limited amount of experience is available on customer-acceptance of <br />ultra-low-f1ush toilets.. A small market share of 3 percent of new <br />construction could be achieved using an information program. An <br />information program in existing construction would have two impacts -- <br />influence customer acceptance at the time of normal replacement and <br />entice some customers to replace their toilets early. The customer <br />acceptance rate for ultra-low-flush toilets at the time of normal <br />replacement due to an information program is estimated at 3 percent, the <br />same as for new construction. An early retirement rate of 2 percent of the <br />normal retirements is assumed to result from an information program. <br /> <br />An aggressive incentive program could have a large impact on the customer <br />acceptance rate for ultra-low-f1ush toilets. If the rebate is high enough to <br />cover the entire incremental cost of ultra-low-flush toilets, a 70 percent <br />acceptance rate could be achieved for new construction and for normal <br />retirements in existing construction. In addition, the incentive program <br /> <br />-2- <br />