AquaOne Technologies

In the Los Angeles metropolitan market, it is estimated that there are 35 million flapper valve-equipped toilets currently in operation.

On any given day, according to an American Water Works Association (AWWA) study, 20% of these toilets leak. That is seven million toilets which are wasting the most precious resource . . . WATER.

Two significant water leaks:
     Silent, pinhole leaks, which can lose 100 gallons (or more) per 24 hours
     and Open flapper leaks, which can waste more than 4,000 gallons per 24 hours

If the seven million toilets had a pinhole leak and lost those 100 gallons over 24 hours, that would be the equivalent of 700 million gallons of wasted water in one day.

That’s enough water to supply almost 2,200 average-sized homes for a year.
…And that’s just in Los Angeles.

While many leaks have an audible sound associated with the loss of water, such as the constant draining noise resulting from a stuck, or open, flapper, this is generally the only sign that a toilet tank needs to be adjusted.

Undetected

Often, tanks that may have a poorly fitting flapper or some other internal leak will remain unfixed or undetected for a considerable period of time.

“With a water drip from a faucet, showerhead or even an external sprinkler system, people can spot them because they leak externally,” said Richard Quintana, inventor of H2ORB and CEO of parent company, AquaOne.

“With most leaking toilets, people may hear a slight ‘gurgling’ sound, or the sound of their water fill valves occasionally going on-and-off to refill their leaking tank. These are overt indicators that something is wrong and needs to be both addressed and corrected.

“If ignored, what people don’t realize is that thousands of gallons of water are being wasted. They should notice the problem when they see higher water bills every month, but often, they attribute the fee increase to other factors.”

“Then one day the homeowner and family go away for a weekend. The toilet is still leaking and finally starts to overflow. Or, the internal leak has gotten so bad that the wood and plaster underneath the bowl has rotted to the extent that it gives way. The family returns to find major destruction and a very costly repair and replacement bill ahead,” Quintana stated, having personally experienced a similar situation.

Worn Flappers

As flappers and tank balls age, they warp, deteriorate and lose both their elasticity and strength. The flapper no longer forms a secure seal around the tank drain. Thus, water continues to exit the tank, resulting in a significant loss. Depending on water flow pressures, the higher the psi, the more water is lost.

Flappers typically have a short life. At 50-55 psi, an open or deteriorating flapper can lose hundreds up to thousands of gallons of water a day. Consumers should periodically check their flapper to make sure it has a tight fit around the tank drain, and replace when appropriate. This is a first step deterrent.

Toxic Mold

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mayo Clinic and AWWA Research Foundation have issued independent statements that, when taken together, point out the serious harm an undetected water leak can do:

    * Toxic mold can begin to form within one day of a toilet overflow
    * One in five people are highly allergic to indoor mold
    * Indoor mold has been determined to be responsible for an increase in the number of report asthma cases

Insurance Claims

In addition, AWWA has determined:

    * Many property insurance policies exclude toilet water damage and mold clean-up while other policies limit damage compensation to low dollar amounts
    * Extensive internal mold clean-up for a single family home can cost $50,000, as well a require the evacuation of the home for the duration of the repairs (sometimes from one to three months)
    * Accordingly, because mold discoveries and subsequent claims are growing on a daily basis, most homeowner insurance policies are being raised by their carriers and underwriters – across the board
    * Some policies are even being cancelled after the carrier has paid significant claims for water overflow and/or leak damage repair