Free high-efficiency toilets available through city

The mayor’s office asked to spread the word that free toilets — with free installation — are still available for income-eligible owner-occupied households through the City of Seattle’s Water Conservation Program. The program was launched in March 2010, with this press release:

According to Seattle Public Utilities, replacement of older toilets with high efficiency models can save a family of four up to 24,000 gallons of water and $140 each year.

“For some homeowners, the cost of replacing old toilets is prohibitive,” says Irene Stewart, director of the Seattle Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens. “That’s why we’re collaborating with Seattle Public Utilities and Senior Services’ Minor Home Repair to provide low-income homeowners with free toilets. Toilets offered by Seattle Public Utilities flush well, help conserve water, and save homeowners money.”

If you meet the following criteria and income guidelines, you can qualify for free toilets and installation by a licensed professional plumber:

  • You are a homeowner of any age with a Seattle Public Utilities account.
  • You currently live in the home you own.
  • Your existing toilets were manufactured before 1994.
  • You meet income guidelines for your household size (examples below).
Household SizeAnnual IncomeMonthly Income
1$ 28,560$ 2,380
2$ 37,344$ 3,112
3$ 46,140$ 3,845
4$ 54,924$ 4,577
5$ 63,708$ 5,309
6$ 72,492$ 6,041

To sign up or get more information, contact Minor Home Repair at 206-448-5751 (TTY 206-448-5025) or e-mail UDP@seattle.gov.

14 thoughts to “Free high-efficiency toilets available through city”

  1. This is hilarious.

    Take a look at the incomes listed there. Is there ANYONE who can afford to own a home in this city with an income on that list? Are there a lot of single folks buying homes in Seattle with an annual income of $28K?

    Riiiiight.

    Oh, maybe they left off a zero from each of the figures.

    More flying unicorns.

  2. My grandmother and great-aunt will have no problem qualifying.
    Anyone who’s lived in their Seattle home for more than 15 years and isn’t making much/anything at the moment would have no problem qualifying….
    Why do you assume this has anything to do with NEW homeowners. Why would new homeowners deserve free toilets and installation in the first place. They SHOULD pay for it.

  3. This toilet news is appropriately timed for World Toilet Day, recnogized annually on Nov 19th. I’m not kidding – Google it!

  4. This is a money-saving measure, already budgeted for, that’s aimed largely at fixed-income seniors (and incidentally benefits some plumbers, who contrary to the general impression, are not generally rolling in dough). It’s not like we’re buying them heated toilet seats. What’s so terrible about it? I thought people *wanted* the economy to be stimulated by money being put into items that would result in green savings in the long run.

  5. I wasn’t aware that we had a water shortage here. Given no shortage, maybe there are better “investments” for public (or ratepayer) money?

  6. “incidentally benefits some plumbers, who contrary to the general impression, are not generally rolling in dough”

    I’m not rolling in dough this year either, where’s my subsidy then?

  7. I disagree with the program in regards to its lack of minimum age.
    It would then be more apparent that this is aimed less at folks who are having a bad year and more at folks who are old, retired and will otherwise continue to effect the rest of us with their antiquated plumbing.
    But it sounds like you’re saying that fixed-income retired individuals on social security should not get any kind of subsidies from the government?
    I guess as a society we’re just supposed to forget about people who are too old to work?

  8. As long as they can wipe their own a**es, they can replace their own toilets.

    But go ahead, I’m sure there’s thousands of programs we ‘must’ fund. Meanwhile our schools get strangled so grandma doesn’t have to sit on an old crapper.

  9. High-efficiency toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush for a full flush and 0.8 gallons per flush for the reduced flush. Studies show that dual-flush toilets average 1.3 gallons per flush. Pressure-assist toilets use a little under 1 gallon per flush.

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