The U.S. EPA’s WaterSense program is encouraging consumers and businesses to celebrate the 15th annual Fix a Leak Week, from March 20 through March 26, by finding and fixing plumbing leaks in their homes and improving irrigations systems for their landscapes.
“This Fix a Leak Week, I invite you to spend a few minutes checking for leaks around your home,” said Andrew Sawyers, director for the EPA Office of Wastewater Management. “Over the past 15 years, WaterSense partners have engaged their communities to find and fix leaks — helping people save water and money.”
To help stop leaks that can waste nearly 10,000 gallons of water per year in the average home, WaterSense partners nationwide are hosting community events, educational workshops, public service announcements, and other efforts to show homeowners how to stop water waste and make their water bills more affordable by checking for leaks.
Because toilets are often a source of leaks, EPA recommends checking for silent toilet leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank and waiting 10 minutes before flushing. If dye is visible in the bowl, there is a leak that may be easily fixed by replacing a worn flapper.
With spring arriving, EPA also recommends checking irrigation components that may have been damaged by winter’s cold. A “sprinkler spruce-up” that checks for broken parts, connects system components tightly to avoid leaks, and directs sprinklers to spray on landscapes can help reduce water waste outdoors.
If any fixtures require replacement, consumers should look for models that have earned EPA’s WaterSense label.