Get ready to chase down your household leaks. As part of Fix a Leak Week, we're encouraging residents to check their toilets for leaks.
The average American home may waste more than 10,000 gallons of water each year due to running toilets, dripping faucets and other household leaks, which can significantly raise your water and wastewater bills. Nationwide, household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually.
You can detect and fix a leaking toilet in five easy steps:
1) Carefully remove and set aside the toilet tank lid.
2) Place a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank.
3) Wait 15 minutes and do not flush.
4) If food coloring appears in the toilet bowl, the flapper valve in your toilet is leaking and should be replaced.
5) Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense website to learn more about repairing a leaking toilet and other water savings tips.
Other simple actions that can add up to a lot of saved water include:
• Taking shorter showers.
• Turning off the water while brushing your teeth.
• Running full loads of clothes and dishes.
• Repairing leaks promptly.
• Making sure your irrigation (sprinkler) system is in good working order.
Together, we can make every drop count!