It is Fix a Leak Week!

In Abilene water conservation is very important, which is why fixing leaking water pipes and fixtures is critical.

We all need to make an effort to chase down those leaks! That wasted water is money down the drain. It is time to save money and find those leaking faucets and fixtures. This week (March 17 – 23) is fix a leak week. According to the EPA 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide is wasted.

Learn how to fix a leak!

Here are the facts on Water Leaks:

Each house averages nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year! 10,000 gallons is equal to about 270 loads of laundry.
Ten percent of homes leak nearly 90 gallons of water per day.
Fixing leaks can save a homeowner 10% on their bill.
Water smart labeled fixtures and other high-efficiency appliances can eliminate leaks.
A faucet that drips one drop per sec can waste 3,000 gallons of water in a year.

Detect a leak:

Some simple ways are to keep an eye on your water meter. At some point, during the day, turn off all the water for 2 hours in the house. Then keep an eye on your water meter. If the water meter changes then you surely have a leak of some kind.

If you notice that your water usage is over 12,000 gallons per month for a family of 4 then you may have a serious leak.

Showerhead:

A showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute will waste nearly 500 gallons per year. Often times we can simply grab some pipe tape and a wrench to stop the leak; however, if you are going to replace a showerhead, look for one that is designed to stop leaking.

Toilets:

The toilet flapper may decay over time as minerals build up in the water. This is an inexpensive do-it-yourself project. If there is a larger leak concerning the toilet then you will want to replace the toilet.

Outdoors:

We need to check our irrigation systems each spring before use to make sure it was left undamaged by the winter. Frost and ice can cause damage creating leaks in the system.

An irrigation system with a 1/32nd of an inch leak (thickness of a dime) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.

Check your garden hose for leaks at the spigot. To fix a leak replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight fit using pipe tape and a wrench.

During this week let’s do what we can to let others know about Abilene Fix a Leak Week and ways to make a difference. You simply can’t afford to lose any water.