New York City launching low-flow toilets program to save money

NEW YORK -- Up to 10,000 New York City buildings would get environmentally-friendly toilets under a new program to save millions of gallons of water each day.

The Wall Street Journal says as 200,000 toilets would be replaced under the $23 million program. It would save the city $9 million a year.

The city's Water board is expected to authorize funding for the program on Friday when it adopts the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

If successful, the city hopes to expand the program next year to include smaller residential buildings.

The toilet replacement is part of an effort to reduce overall demand for water by 5 percent by 2020.

The city offered a similar program between 1994 and 1997; 1.3 million toilets were replaced.