The purpose of testing is to find possible flaws in our concept, design, or system. In the case of our product, the Witloo team tested the concept of a fast-falling flapper with a delayed-return handle, various designs, and different systems.

Witloo’s Flush…More or Less dual-flush retro-fit conversion kit has changed its design greatly since the first prototype, its evolution driven by countless tests. Our product initially started as a modified flapper valve with a toilet-tank side-addition. The concept of the holed flapper with the magnetic slider was tested. After Shad Valley, it was decided that the magnetic slider was not very efficient, so other possibilities were investigated. A weighted handle was tried, and it proved to be more feasible. A weighted flapper valve was also tested. As ideas changed, so did the prototypes. Sliding weights on the handle became the newest idea, and the new prototype handle had a rail for the weight. Next, a spring-activated auto-return mechanism for the weighted handle was tried, and this design concept worked in theory; however, after several attempts, it was discovered that the spring was too powerful. As a result, the prototype relied only on the mass of the weight and the rail. Final test-trials indicate a new handle should be created instead of attaching our prototype to an existing handle.

All test-trials were conducted in Ontario. Our product was initially field-tested at Conrad Grebel College of the University of Waterloo for the duration of the Shad Valley program. Afterwards, experimentation continued in Mississauga, Toronto, and Richmond Hill, sponsored by Gabriel Chan and Cecilia Yu, Faizal Ismail, and Miranda Fong respectively.