It is “Fix a Leak Week” – Those drips really add up

Household leaks waste 1 trillion gallons of water per year in the United States alone. That’s equal to the annual household water use of more than 11 million homes.

Together with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is promoting “Fix a Leak Week,” March 16–22, 2015. Fix a Leak Week is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® program as an annual reminder to check household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.

“The PUCO is participating in Fix a Leak week to help educate Ohioans about finding and fixing leaks in and around the home,” said PUCO Chairman Thomas W. Johnson. “By using water more efficiently, consumers can save money on their water and energy bills.”

To help consumers here in Ohio and across the country save water, the PUCO, OEPA and WaterSense® are promoting ways to identify and repair dripping faucets, running toilets and leaky showerheads. In most cases, fixture replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by do-it-yourselfers, your favorite handy person or plumber. Below are a few water-saving tips:

• Reduce faucet leaks by checking faucet and showerhead washers and gaskets for wear and, if necessary, replace the faucet with a WaterSense® labeled model.
• Silent toilet leaks can be found by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank and checking the bowl for color after a few minutes or before flushing. Replacing a worn rubber flapper is a quick, affordable fix.
• Check the water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, a leak is probably present.
• Review your water bill. If a family of four uses more than 12,000 gallons per month during the winter, leaks are likely.
• For a leaky garden hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.

“Identifying and fixing leaks is important because it helps to conserve our valuable water resources and saves Ohioans money,” said Ohio EPA Director Craig W. Butler.

Introduced in 2006, WaterSense® is a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. EPA that makes it easy for Americans to save water and protect the environment by identifying water-efficient products, services and homes. The WaterSense® label can be found on toilets and bathroom faucets. Products that have earned the WaterSense® label have been independently tested to meet water-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. EPA. Visit www.epa.gov/watersense to find a WaterSense labeled product in your area. For more information on Fix a Leak Week, visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak.