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PHOENIX — A state lawmaker from Tucson wants to conserve Arizona's water by giving a tax credit to those who replace their toilets with dual-flush versions, which use less water for liquid waste.

Upgrading to a dual-flush toilet can save thousands of gallons of water per year, said Republican Rep. Marian McClure.

"With our population living in a desert state in the middle of a drought, it just seemed like a good idea," McClure said.

A dual-flush toilet uses about 20 percent less water than a conventional toilet. It has two levers or buttons — one that triggers a full flush for solid waste and one that releases less water for liquid waste.

A dual-flush toilet also is significantly more expensive than a regular fixture.

HB 2126 would provide a tax credit worth 25 percent of a dual-flush toilet's cost, not to exceed $100 for one toilet and $200 per home. To qualify for the credit, a toilet would have to use no more than 1.6 gallons for a full flush and 1.1 gallons for a reduced flush.

The state's budget deficit has McClure wondering how far the bill will go.

"I don't even know if it will even be heard because of that," she said. "I'd even have some reservations about that."

McClure's proposal would be a good way to promote water conservation, said Mitch Basefsky, spokesman for Tucson Water, which provides service to about 700,000 people.

"Part of the response to a drought is to become more water-efficient as a community," Basefsky said.

An average dual-flush toilet starts at about $150, compared with about $60 for a typical toilet, said Pete Smith, water conservation coordinator for Tempe. That city offers a rebate of 50 percent, up to $75, for each low-flush toilet installed, including dual-flush toilets.

Smith said the program, which began in 1992, has been a great success, with thousands of low-flush toilets installed in apartment complexes, hotels and homes.

Learn different ways to conserve water at azstarnet.com/earth911.