Click HERE for a recap of DWC’s Fix a Leak Week events.
What is “Fix a Leak Week”?
Because minor water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year in U.S. homes, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared a week in March as Fix a Leak Week.
Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense® program as part of the We’re for Water campaign, this week is an opportunity to improve the water efficiency of your home by finding and fixing leaks. In the average home, household leaks waste more than 10,000 gallons of water each year. That’s enough to wash nearly 10 months’ worth of laundry!
WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Its mission is to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by promoting and enhancing the market for water-efficient products and services. Currently, there are more than 400 WaterSense labeled toilets, more than 1,600 labeled faucets and faucet accessories, and more than 850 certified irrigation partners. WaterSense labeled products must achieve independent, third-party testing and certification to prove they meet EPA’s rigorous criteria for efficiency and performance.
Every Drop Counts
Below Flo shows you how to check for leaks ->
Here’s how to identify and fix leaks around your home:
- Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
- To determine if you have a leak, now is a great time to check water usage. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month in the winter, you probably have leaks!
- Search for toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl without flushing first, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately to avoid staining the tank.) Check out DWC’s How to Fix a Toilet Leak pamphlet.
- Be a Leak Detective. Look for dripping faucets, shower-heads, and fixture connections as well as toilets with silent leaks, by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank and seeing if it appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots too. Take the 10 Minute WaterSense Challenge to detect and chase down leaks.
- Twist and tighten pipe connections. To save more water without a noticeable difference in flow, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator.
- Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for WaterSense labeled models, which are independently tested and certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models.
Click HERE for Sogosaurus, Drainiac, Drip Drip, and Swirly Monsters bookmarks.
Watch more helpful WaterSense videos here.
Get Involved
During Fix a Leak Week (or any week), grab a wrench or contact your favorite handy person, plumber, or WaterSense irrigation partner to address leaking toilets, faucets, and irrigation systems around your home.
- Take the Fix a Leak Week pledge
- Take the Preserving Every Drop Pledge
- “Like” WaterSense on Facebook and follow WaterSense on Twitter for the latest tips and events.
- Visit the WaterSense Web site to learn more.
Have Any Questions?
If you have any questions or comments about the DuPage Water Commission please contact us.