Caroma's DuoSet toilet is a two button flush system allowing the user to select between a 9 litre and a 4.5 litre flush. The clear acrylic cistern is a specially made demonstration model to show the internal mechanism.
The Caroma dual flush toilet was developed in response to Australia's limited water resources. Caroma created a research and development project to reduce water use which was funded by a Commonwealth Government Grant. The research and development project led to considerable redesign of the traditional cistern and bowl and created the dual flush system.
The development and use of the dual flush toilet reduced national water consumption for toilet use and addressed the significant issue and cost of wasting clean water. The introduction of the 9/4.5 litre flush system in 1980 reduced water use from an average 55 litres per person per day to 27 litres per person per day.
Dual Flush toilets were made mandatory around Australia in all new buildings. Caroma redesigned the cistern and pan in 1994 to produce an even smaller 6/3 litre product which reduced water use to 18 litres per person per day.
Angelique Hutchison, Curator, 2002