Why Toilet Selection Matters for Multifamily
Not all low-flow toilets are created equal, and the wrong choice can lead to resident complaints, maintenance issues, and underwhelming water savings. For multifamily properties, the toilet you select needs to excel in four areas: water efficiency, flush performance, durability, and resident satisfaction.
Niagara Stealth 0.8 GPF: The Gold Standard
The Niagara Stealth is our recommended toilet for multifamily installations, and for good reason:
- Water usage: 0.8 GPF — the lowest in the industry
- Flush technology: Stealth vacuum-assist technology provides powerful, quiet flushes
- Noise level: Virtually silent operation — critical for multifamily settings
- MaP score: 600g+ (exceeds industry standard)
- Maintenance: No flapper valve means fewer maintenance calls
- Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty on china, 5-year on components
Standard 1.28 GPF Low-Flow Toilets
The most common "low-flow" option on the market uses 1.28 GPF:
- Water usage: 1.28 GPF — 60% more than the Niagara Stealth
- Flush technology: Varies by manufacturer; gravity-fed is most common
- Noise level: Standard — audible flush in adjacent rooms
- MaP score: Varies widely (400-1000g depending on model)
- Maintenance: Standard flapper valve requires periodic replacement
Head-to-Head Comparison: 200-Unit Property
Let's compare the annual water consumption and cost for a 200-unit property (2 persons per unit, 5 flushes per person per day):
Niagara Stealth 0.8 GPF:
- Daily water per unit: 8 gallons
- Annual water (200 units): 584,000 gallons
- Annual cost (at $0.015/gal): $8,760
Standard 1.28 GPF:
- Daily water per unit: 12.8 gallons
- Annual water (200 units): 934,400 gallons
- Annual cost (at $0.015/gal): $14,016
The Niagara Stealth saves an additional $5,256 per year compared to standard low-flow — and that's just the toilet water. When you factor in sewer charges (typically 1.5-2x water rates), the savings gap widens significantly.
Our Recommendation
For multifamily properties, the Niagara Stealth 0.8 GPF is the clear winner. Its combination of industry-leading water efficiency, powerful flush performance, quiet operation, and low maintenance makes it the ideal choice for occupied multifamily units. The additional savings over standard 1.28 GPF models compound year after year, making it the smarter long-term investment.