Seattle Public Utilities is helping low-income homeowners save money and water by offering free efficient toilets.

Qualified Seattle homeowners can have their old water-guzzling toilets replaced with free efficient models, helping to cut their utility bills and reduce water waste.

Toilets are the main source of water use in the home, accounting for approximately 30 percent of residential indoor water use. These efficient toilets use just 1.6 gallons per flush compared to the 3.5 gallons per flush or more used by toilets installed prior to 1994.

Tracey Rowland, Program Manager with Seattle Public Utilities, said that these toilets will deliver big savings to low-income homeowners. “Most households can easily save thousands of gallons of water and more than $100 a year on utility bills, just by installing this efficient toilet,” said Rowland. “Better yet, these toilets are absolutely free to qualified homeowners,” said Rowland.

To qualify for free toilets, properties must be located within Seattle Public Utilities’ service area, must have existing toilets installed before 1994 and the homeowner’s household must earn less than 50 percent of area median income.

Installation and recycling services are also provided at no charge for homeowners earning less than 30 percent of the area median income.

Homeowners earning between 30 and 50 percent of the area income will be charged a small co-pay for installation services.

For more information, call (206) 448-5751 or visit www.seattle.gov/util/Services/Water.