What is Fix a Leak Week?

Each year, nearly 1 trillion gallons of water is wasted from household leaks. As a proud partner of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense Program, we’re here to help! Each year, we celebrate Fix a Leak Week in March, but this year, we devoting the entire month of March to helping curb water waste in our community. We’ll be conducting a number of special activities to help reduce water waste in our community. Here’s what you can expect:

• Keep an eye on your bill! We’ll be including leak detection information all month.
• Think your commode may be leaking? Let us know and we’ll send you a toilet test kit.
• Leak detection assistance — We’ll be distributing leak detection packets (toilet test kits, shower timers, and more tools!) to customers who’s meter reads significantly higher than normal. Stop by our office anytime in March, and we’ll give you one, too.
• Social media tips — Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for a water savings tips, helpful news and information, and fun facts about our district and team!
• Commercial leak detection — We’re sending special commercial leak detection checklists to businesses in our service area.

Three things you can do: Check. Twist. Replace.

• Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Also check for toilets with silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank, waiting 10 minutes, and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Watch this quick how-to video for step-be-step instructions.
  Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots too.
• Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections. To save water without a noticeable difference in flow in your bathroom, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator.
• Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for WaterSense labeled models, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models.

Let your meter help

• Another way you can check for household leaks is by performing a simple leak check. Just follow the steps below, and if you need help understanding how to read your meter, check out the video below.
  1. Turn off all faucets inside and outside. Make sure that your dishwasher, washing machine, toilets, etc. are not running.
  2. Record your meter reading on the water meter located outside your home (usually on a front corner of your property).
  3. While recording your reading, you can also check the dial located in the middle of your meter that resembles a pinwheel. If you see that your pinwheel dial is moving, you can assume you have a leak. If the pinwheel dial is not moving, proceed to Step 3.
  4. Wait at least one hour (more is better) using absolutely no water. (Remember not to flush any toilets during this time.)
  5. Record your meter reading again and compare the two readings. If the reading has increased, you may have a leak, and you may want to contact a licensed plumber or repair the leak yourself.
  6. If the reading is the same, you do not have a leak.

Other tools and resources

“Be a Leak Detective” Checklist

Leak Detective Kids’ Activity Page

Commercial water savings checklist