Your toilet analogy is partially true but is incomplete. Toilets manufactured immediately after the regulations went into effect are in fact less effective. However, the industry innovated, improving previously inefficient bowl designs and creating other inventions that improve performance. Toilets manufactured today are at least as effective as those created before the regulations, and consume fewer natural resources (no small matter here in California where we're staring at drought again).

Regulations may impose a cost, but they can often spur innovation and economic growth as well.