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Flexible U–bends will stop flush toilets wasting so much water, says Janovations of North Shields, Tyne and Wear (GB 2370586). While the old trick of placing a brick in the cistern cuts the amount of water, it makes the flush less effective. Janovations says a flexible U–bend is the answer. In its normal U shape it is filled with just enough water to do its job as a seal against smelly drain gas. But thanks to an arrangement of levers, pushing the flush handle temporarily straightens the U–bend pipe and tilts it downwards as the cistern empties, allowing gravity to pull waste and water down the drain. Tests show that much less water is needed to get the toilet to flush.