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Stewards of the Earth

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explicit:
I'm just astounded that such a thing even existed, it's so simple, why haven't I heard of this?

hedgie:
I have seen a few of the variable flush ones around, as well as "power-flush" models which use less water at higher pressure to accomplish the same task. 

looktall:
I'm sure I once saw a cistern that had a little sink over the top of it.
When you flush, the water comes out of the tap on the sink.
you wash your hands and the waste water then fills the cister.

I can only recall seeing this once. I'm sure I didn't imagine it.
It seems like such a brilliant idea. I can't understand why it's not more common.

explicit:
Sounds like a simple grey-water type of device. Something we should use more of seeing as I don't think my poop water has to be all that clean.

The Seldom Killer:
The National Trust building in Swindon has a rainwater system for all of their toilets which is a good innovation.

The problem with grey water flush systems is basically twofold.

1) Grey water generally tends to occur lower down. That means that you have to have a pumping mechanism to get it back up to where it needs to be. Putting grey water under pressure in a pumping system introduces it's own issues and requires a more robust set of components and a maintenance schedule. You then get into a negative water cost in an effort to save water. Don't for get that pressure requires power generation and power has a water cost. The production of additional components and the provision of additional maintenance also requires water in itself. Although wasteful at the point of usage, use of clean water can be more economical than a grey water system.

2) Grey water also necessarily contains impurities. That's OK on something that is going into a sewerage system but less so for something that by design is going to be standing water for a significant proportion of it's cycle. That in itself poses a health hazard that will require additional measures to keep safe. You'd be more likely to use additional cleaning products to keep your toilet clean and healthy which adds a chemical cost which has to be countered when whatever you flush reaches your local waste water/sewage treatment works. Shit, toilet paper and other organic matter is easily handled by the digestion systems but even relatively low bleach spikes can be a big issue for your local utilities. I refer you to the earlier comments about water costs.

So how does the National Trust do this in an environmentally friendly manner? Rain water is relatively clean stuff. In fact it's already destined for the sewers anyway. All rain water then runs across a neutralising catalyst and runs through a static filtration system (ceramic I think) that makes it clean enough for usage. You can install one of these as a home system but you would need a sufficient scale of head in order to counter the absence of pressurisation. You'll also need a functional run off system and a valved back up from the mains for periods of low rain.

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