Water Tips

• A slow drip wastes 15 gallons per day!
• 1/32-inch leak wastes 25 gallons in 24 hours
• 1/16-inch stream wastes 100 gallons in 24 hours
• 1/8-inch stream wastes 400 gallons in 24 hours

Leak Detection and Repair

Studies show that dripping faucets and leaking toilets account for as much as 14% of all indoor water use, equivalent to 10 gallons per person of water lost per day.

Read Your Water Meter

Use your water meter to check for leaks in your home. Start by turning off all faucets and water-using appliances and make sure no one uses water during the testing period. Take a reading on your water meter, wait for about 30 minutes, then take a second reading. If the dial has moved, you have a leak.

Toilets

Toilets can account for almost 30% of all indoor water use, more than any other fixture or appliance. An average of 20% of toilets leak. Older toilets (installed prior to 1994) use 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush and as much as 20 gallons per person per day. Replacing an old toilet with a new model can save the typical household 7,900 to 21,700 gallons of water per year, cutting both your water and wastewater bills.

Check for Leaky Toilets

The most common source of leaks is the toilet. Check toilets for leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If after 15 minutes the dye shows up in the bowl, the toilet has a leak. Leaky toilets can usually be repaired inexpensively by replacing the flapper.

Check for Leaky Faucets

The next place to check for leaks is your sink and bathtub faucets. Dripping faucets can usually be repaired by replacing the rubber O-ring or washer inside the valve.