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The severe drought here in California has us all concerned. Regulations and emergency assistance at the state and national level are being put in place to aid where needed and regulate water usage. As a result of the drought, it’s predicted that nearly a dozen communities may run out of water, produce will cost more and people will loss their jobs.

At this time, all Californians have been asked to voluntarily conserve water usage. Mandatory reductions are already taking place in many cities and counties. To help educate, I’m sharing a few easy water saving tips found at Water Use It Wisely:

1.  When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.

2.  Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.

3.  When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.

4. Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.

5. In your yard, plant species native to your region.

6.  Adjust your lawn mower to the height of 1.5″ to 2″. Taller grass shades roots and holds soil moisture better than short grass.

7. Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.

8. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save up to 4 gallons a minute. That’s up to 200 gallons a week for a family of four.

9.  Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.

10. Upgrade older toilets with water-saving WaterSense® labeled models.

This last water saving tip can make a huge difference in both residential and commercial water usage. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), by replacing old, inefficient toilets with WaterSense labeled models, the average family can reduce water used for toilets by 20 to 60 percent—an annual water savings of nearly 13,000 gallons!

(saving space and water – TOTO’s Aquia wall-hung toilet via Houzz)

This is where TOTO comes in. As the winner of numerous domestic and international awards and recognitions, TOTO is the only plumbing manufacturer honored as Water Efficiency Leader by the U.S. EPA. TOTO’s quality assurance standards and rigorous testing procedures – unparalleled in the industry — have earned its products the highest performance ratings, including certification by the EPA’s WaterSense Labeling Program, which requires independent third-party testing to ensure that tested products meet the WaterSense specification that includes all applicable plumbing codes (ANSI/ASME). Here’s a complete list of all of TOTO’s WaterSense certified toilets.

While touring KBIS with #BlogTourVegas, I saw TOTO’s two new ultra high-efficiency Neorest performance model toilets: Neorest 700H and 550H. These are TOTO’s top of the line toilets and combine elegant design with luxurious, next-generation features. I never thought a toilet would impress me so much! But it wasn’t the hands-free automatic flush, auto open and close, heated seat or the ability to save up to two user settings on the new sleek, wall-mounted remote that had me excited. It was the remarkable ecological features.

Both the 700H and 550H models offer an ultra high-efficiency Cyclone dual-flush technology, which consumes a modest one-gallon of water per flush (GPF) for the full flush, and 0.8 GPF for the light flush. Like TOTO’s top-selling Washlets, these new Neorests leverage TOTO’s eWater+ technology which keeps the bowl cleaner longer and reduces the need for harsh cleaning products. Using the incoming water supply, a pre-mist wets the bowl’s surface preventing waste’s adherence 80% better than a dry bowl. After each flush, eWater+ mists the bowl with electrolysed water, which has a slightly acidic pH value, keeping the bowl fresh and clean longer. NEOREST’s bowl is glazed with TOTO’s HYDROTECT titanium dioxide coating and zirconium, giving it a lovely iridescent, mother-of-pearl sensibility. Extremely hydrophilic, HYDROTECT makes it nearly impossible for organic substances to adhere to the bowl’s surface, enabling waste, lime scale and mold to wash away easily. Further, when combined with sunlight, HYDROTECT triggers a photocatalytic process in which organic substances are broken down. To achieve this, TOTO integrated a UV light in the seat lid that is activated when the lid is closed. Once the UV light hits the HYDROTECT’s titanium dioxide coating on the toilet’s bowl, photocatalysis occurs, accelerating the ecomposition of all organic substances in the bowl. Isn’t this incredible? I’m predicting that we will see this type of UV light technology infused in more and more kitchen and bath products.

It’s giveaway time! TOTO’s Washlet S350e offers a new way to be cleaner and more refreshed every day by making personal hygiene better and more ecological. What’s a Washlet? Simply, it’s a toilet seat that’s easily installed on most any toilet. With every flush, its uses TOTO’s eWater+ technology making your toilet fresher and easier to clean. eWater+ reduces the need for harsh cleaning products, which saves time, money and is better for the planet. TOTO is giving away a Washlet S350e valued $1,700… here’s where to enter!

good luck!

cristin

*disclosure: this post was sponsored by TOTO through BlogTour, although all opinions are my own.

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