Low-flow toilets cause a stink in SF

SanFrancisco Chronicle ^ | Monday, February 28, 2011 | Phillip Matier,Andrew Ross

[TheBattman]

Low-flow toilets cause a stink in SF Phillip Matier,Andrew Ross Monday, February 28, 2011 San Francisco's big push for low-flow toilets has turned into a multimillion-dollar plumbing stink. Skimping on toilet water has resulted in more sludge backing up inside the sewer pipes, said Tyrone Jue, spokesman for the city Public Utilities Commission. That has created a rotten-egg stench near AT&T Park and elsewhere, especially during the dry summer months. The city has already spent $100 million over the past five years to upgrade its sewer system and sewage plants, in part to combat the odor problem. Now officials are stocking up on a $14 million, three-year supply of highly concentrated sodium hypochlorite - better known as bleach - to act as an odor eater and to disinfect the city's treated water before it's dumped into the bay. It will also be used to sanitize drinking water. That translates into 8.5 million pounds of bleach either being poured down city drains or into the drinking water supply every year. Not everybody thinks it's a good idea.

[wildbill]

The law of unintended consequences for failute to think things through strikes again.

Can’t these libtards ever grasp that their pipedream ideas haven’t been implemented before for a reason—they don’t work.

[jackibutterfly]

Man, THAT was funny!!!

[Pining_4_TX]

AND the new washers that don’t use enough water so they have to beat clothes to death to get them clean AND the CFC-free asthma inhalers that don’t work at all (breathing is so overrated!) AND the upcoming new regulations on dishwashers and refrigerators that will mean they won’t work any more either AND the crappy little cars that don’t carry anything and are unsafe AND the assault on any kind of effort to increase our production of oil, gas, and coal AND the ethanol boondoggle that is driving food prices up and ruining engines... Enviro-whackos are literally ruining our way of life. They are destroying all progress and are quite happy about it.

[Pining_4_TX]

The sewer systems were designed (and quite efficiently, at that) for having a certain amount of water moving waste along the pipes. These low-flush toilets will continue to cause problems, and now they want toilets to use even less water.

I’m sick of the smell, the splash, the noise, the multiple flushing. Why do we let these people dictate how we are to live?

[Louis Foxwell]

Why do we let these people dictate how we are to live?

Ever have to live with a scolding, angry teen aged girl? Eventually you do whatever is necessary just to get a little peace, particularly when it is obvious that they will kill or be killed before they quit their incessant screeching.

Well...Liberals are harmonally addicted teen aged girls: angry, violent, bitter, hateful, and just want to kill anyone who dares raise their voice in opposition.

This is precisely why we need a woman president who knows how to deal with unruly teenagers.

[LowOiL]

I was reading a thread on septic tank on FR the other day and the Yeast solution was disputed pretty clearly. Seems it makes it hard for the bacteria to live.

[BigIsleGal]

And now California is beginning to smell like third-world country!

[fella]

When touchy/feely lawyers make one size fits all laws there are unintended consequences.

[Gene Eric]

Unintended consequences. Go figure.

[Clara Lou]

I’m sick of the smell, the splash, the noise, the multiple flushing.
You clearly did not do your research before you bought. I've had a low flow for about 6 years. It uses air to pressurize. I have never suffered from smell, splash, noise, or multiple flushing. In addition, I've never once had to replace a single part.

[RoadTest]

. . . and their sin stinks to high Heaven!

[23 Everest]

I agree, the low flush toilets are an oxymoron. You have to flush twice defeating the purpose!

And what about the waterless urinals? Only going to add to the problem.

[23 Everest]

You are correct!

[Pining_4_TX]

Actually, I did do my research, and we bought the #1 recommended (Consumer Reports) low flush toilet. While it is an improvement over the older low flush toilet we had, it is still somewhat noisy, occasionally splashes, is smellier than a full-flush toilet, and requires more frequent cleaning.

Low-flush toilets are a stupid product. What many people do not know is that the toilet manufacturers were among those who supported the new standards. Just like GE and Sylvania who pushed for the new light bulbs, toilet manufacturers make more money from selling fancy, new-fangled low flush toilets than they do the old, simple ones. It’s all a crock, if you’ll pardon the expression. ;-)