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1. Why should I get rid of my 13-litre toilet?

Toilet flushing uses about a quarter of water used in a home and are a major source of water leakage. Switching to a water efficient toilet will also reduce the pressure on our City’s water and sewer infrastructure, defer the costly infrastructure upgrades and save water for other essential uses like firefighting and water main flushing.

2. How do I know if my old and new toilets are eligible for the rebate?

Old toilets must have a flush capacity of at least 13 litres (3.5 gallons) to be eligible for the rebate program. If your toilet has been in place earlier than October 2011, it is likely eligible. You can also check the flush capacity by looking on the inside or outside of the toilet tank.

Eligible water efficient toilets must be Canadian certified (e.g. CSA, CUPC, Warnock Hersey) and have a flush capacity of maximum 4.8 liters (1.28 gallons) for single-flush models, or 4.1 to 6 litres (1.1 to 1.6 gallons) for dual-flush models. Check with your local retailer or plumber before you make your purchase, or look for the flush capacity marked on the inside or outside of the toilet tank. 

3. Is there a deadline to apply? How many rebates can I apply for?

Applications along with supporting documents must be complete and submitted within 90 days of purchasing the new toilet. Applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis while funding lasts. The City of Coquitlam reserves the right to reject incomplete or inadequate applications.

There is a maximum of two toilet rebates for each Coquitlam property.

4. Do I have to throw away my old toilet? Where can I dispose of it?

Yes, in order to conserve water please dispose of your old toilet. Toilets are considered garbage and can be taken to the United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre for disposal.  Make sure you take a photo of the cracked toilet tank before throwing it away!

5. Do I have to be the registered homeowner to apply?

You do not have to be the registered homeowner to submit the rebate application as long as the name and contact information of the homeowner is included on the application. Rebates are issued in the form of a $100 credit to the homeowner’s utility bill.

6. My water efficient toilet was purchased and installed by my plumber. What do I do if I don’t have a receipt for my new toilet?

Please ask your plumber to provide written/printed proof (e.g. invoice) indicating the date of the toilet purchase and installation. This should be submitted with your application form and other supporting documents.

7. Will installing a low-flow toilet cause backup issues in my sewer pipe?

Even though low-flow toilets use less water to flush, they will not will not cause your home’s sewer pipe to back up. 

Toilet flushing accounts for 24% of all indoor water use, which means that there are also other forms of wastewater from your home that flow into the sewer service line and keeps waste moving along. 

Also, current low-flush toilet models have a more efficient flushing system than the early generation of low-flow toilets. 

To prevent blockages, however, it is very important to know what items should never be flushed down the toilet, as they will inevitably clog the sewer system. Find out what all those ‘un-flushables’ are by visiting Metro Vancouver’s Unflushables webpage or the Recycling Council of BC.

There are also other reasons why a sewer pipe could back up, e.g. tree roots have grown into the service pipe, the slope or grade of the service is below standard, or the pipes have deteriorated over time. Underground sewer and stormwater pipes require periodic inspection and maintenance to maximize their service life. 

In general, homeowners are responsible for maintaining the pipes between the house and the property line. It is recommended that home owners periodically have their pipes camera inspected and maintained as required.

If you have any concerns or questions, contact the City’s Engineering and Public Works Department anytime at 604-927-3500. If there are any issues with the portion of the sewer service that you own and maintain, you would need to call a private plumbing company.

8. If there are items I’m not supposed to flush down the toilet, where should I dispose of them?

Items such as medication, napkins, wipes and hair should never be flushed down the toilet as it will inevitably clog the sewer system and cost a significant amount of money to repair damaged infrastructure. 

Find out how to properly dispose of these ‘unflushable’ items by visiting the Recycling Council of BC.

You can also, check out Metro Vancouver’s Unflushables campaign.