Water leaks in your home are costing you money. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), small household leaks can result in several gallons of water being lost every day. The EPA reminds everyone to check their faucets and irrigation systems every March during the year Fix-a-leak week.
Household leaks across the country can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water a year, according to the EPA. For example, a leaky faucet that drips at the rate of a drop per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. That is the amount of water it takes to take more than 180 showers. A shower head that leaks at 10 drops per minute wastes over 500 gallons a year – that’s the amount of water it takes to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher.
The EPA states that the average household spills can waste nearly 11,000 gallons of water a year, and 10 percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more of water a day. Common types of leaks in the home include: worn toilet flaps, leaking faucets, and other leaking valves. According to the EPA, fixing easy-to-correct water leaks in the home can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills.
To help consumers find and repair easy-to-fix leaks and promote conservation, the Missouri Public Service Commission supports the EPA Fix-a-Leak Week from March 15-21, 2021.
“Water is a valuable resource that we must use wisely,” said Ryan Silvey, chairman of the public services commission. “There are several ways you can save water. Not only will this help you save money on your water bill, it will also help protect the value of your largest investment, your home.”
Here are some tips on how to save water:
– Check for leaks. Silent toilet leaks can be detected by adding a few drops of food coloring to the tank and checking for color in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and cones as well.
– Twist and tighten the pipe connections.
– Replace the device if necessary.
–Connect the sink or use a sink when washing dishes by hand.
– Install a water-saving shower head. They use a third of the amount of water that a normal shower head uses.
– Turn off the tap while you shave or brush your teeth.
– Store drinking water in the refrigerator instead of leaving the faucet running until the water has cooled down.
For more information, see the Missouri Public Service Commission website at www.psc.mo.gov or the EPA at www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week.
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