Fix a Leak Week ― March 16-22, 2020
If your faucet drips or your toilet runs it can waste over 10,000 gallons a year ― the amount of water in a typical backyard swimming pool. More than one trillion gallons of water are lost annually in the U.S. due to easy-to-fix household leaks.
WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that seeks to protect the future of our water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes, and services.
LCC, the US Environmental Protection Agency and other WaterSense partners are promoting water conservation as part of national "Fix a Leak Week." Wasting water wastes energy and money and can contribute to lake pollution. Get a jump on the week by reviewing your water bills and seeing how much water you consume, then visit LCC's Water Conservation page for additional water saving tips for homes and businesses.
Look for the following clues to catch a leak:
- Check your utility bill ― examine your utility bill in January or February. It’s likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons (or 16CCF) per month. Also check for monthly spikes in your bills.
- Read your water meter ― find your water meter, which is usually near the curb in front of your home or in your basement. Use a screwdriver to remove the lid on your meter, which is heavy and usually marked “water.” Now that you’ve found the meter, take a reading during a period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same after two hours, you probably have a leak.
- Check toilets ― put a few drops of food coloring into the tank; wait a few minutes and see if the color appears in the bowl before you flush. If it does, there's a leak.
How to fix leaks and save water:
- Replace the most common sources of leaks ― worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and leaking showerheads ― with inexpensive WaterSense fixtures. Click here for a comprehensive WaterSense product search.
- Use the Smart Home Water Guide for step-by-step instructions on identifying and fixing indoor and outdoor leaks.