*What is the MaP test for toilets, and Why Is It Important?

Many consumers do not trust low-flow or high-efficiency toilets to flush as well as the standard models. This infamy is leftover from toilets manufactured in the last decade of the 20^th century that were as low in their flushing power as they were in their water usage. But now, technology has caught up, in part, because of the MaP test (2003).

Before 2003, new toilets could not be told apart by their flushing power, so manufacturers did not have a big reason to research technologies that would increase power, even with low amounts of water usage. The resultant negative product reviews were throwing the entire water-efficiency movement into doubt. Users would sometimes need to flush these old models two or three times, which would waste as much water as the standard toilets except with more hassle!

Fixing the Problem: the MaP Test and Its Impact on Toilets

To address the problem, Canada and the US devised the Maximum Performance Test (MaP Test), which was to rate toilets based on their flushing power. As a result, consumers could tell the difference between high-end and low-end models before purchasing. As one can imagine, the higher-end models began to sell much better, and the ineffective toilets were kicked back to the drawing board.

What the Rating System Means

Now, most toilets on the market perform up to consumer expectations. Still, check the rating on each model. The rating represents the maximum fecal size that the toilet model will reliably flush. So, because the largest fecal size for the average male is 250 g, the test does not go below that threshold. Ratings larger than that indicate superior performance, and most models being produced today boast ratings at or above 600 g. For more information, view the latest MAP test report  Here.

The WaterSense Program – How It Builds on the MaP Test

The EPA's WaterSense Program uses the MaP test to either pass or fail toilet models, as well, but the program only passes models that:

• Rate at 350 g or above on the MaP test, and

• Have equal to or less than a 1.28 gallon flush (called high-efficiency toilets)

The downside to this certificate is that the stamp of approval covers up the MaP rating, so it is impossible to distinguish between toilets with a 350 g rating from those with a 1000 g rating. If the difference matters, then you may need to look up the results yourself on the pdf given above.

Why the WaterSense Program Matters – Save Money

There are plenty of rebates one can claim for replacing old toilets with WaterSense-certified models. These will often take up to $40 off each replacement, which adds up to more than 10% savings on most models. These rebates can be found on the EPA's site, with applications and instructions.

Only One More Thing To Do – Installation

If you are excited about saving the environment and money by purchasing a new toilet but want more specific information regarding the amount of money and water a high-efficiency toilet will save you, check out my last blog (link “New low flow toilets – How much money will I save?”). But remember that installation costs some money on top of the purchase price. Click here for a free estimate.