Chase Down Leaks During Fix a Leak Week

Did you know that 1 trillion gallons of water are wasted each year from household leaks nationwide? Join in on helping to crack down sneaky leaks inside and outside your home during Fix a Leak Week, March 18 through 24 — and all year long.

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According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average household wastes nearly 10,000 gallons of water each year, which is the same amount of water used to wash 270 loads of laundry. Let’s not waste water, but instead use it for necessities like laundry. Ten percent of U.S. homes account for leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. That is why Fix a Leak Week is a great reminder to make every drop count. By finding and fixing easily corrected leaks, Otay customers could save up to 10% on their water bills.

Here are a few tips for detecting easy-to-fix leaks in your home:

• During the colder months, check your water usage on your water bill. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, you may have a leak.
• Check your water meter before and after a 2-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes, you may have a leak. Visit otaywater.gov/how-to-read-your-meter to learn how to track your water use.
• Place a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank and wait 10 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the bowl, you have a leak.
• Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.
• Run your garden hose. If it leaks, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.
• Check the washer or “o” ring inside the showerhead for leaks.
• Visit the EPA’s checklist to help you do a check of your irrigation system.

For tips on leak detection during Fix a Leak Week, follow the District on social media (@otaywater) or visit epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week.