Home Water Leaks

Stop the ripple effect on bills, environment

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is asking U.S. residents to inspect their homes for leaks during Fix-a-Leak Week, March 17-23.

Imagine you could pick up Hoover Reservoir like a child’s plastic pool and pour all 20.8 billion gallons of water down a drain. Now repeat that action about 48 times. By the end, you would have wasted one trillion gallons of water. That’s how much water U.S. households waste every year, according to the EPA.

The average household leak results in 10,000 gallons of wasted water each year. The most common causes of leaks are worn toilet flappers and dripping faucets, as well as other valves. While a small drip here or there may not seem like a pressing issue, leaks can be costly over time. The good news is most of these issues are relatively simple to fix and the EPA estimates homeowners could save around 10% on their utility bills once all leaks are addressed.

Westerville Sustainability Coordinator David Celebrezze offers simple suggestions for checking for common leaks.

“We are lucky in Westerville that we have our own water plant that produces about 7.5 million gallons of water a day, but we all have a responsibility,” said Celebrezze. “It can kind of be fun, too, to check to see if you have leaks at home.”

A faucet leaking one drip of water per second can waste over 3,000 gallons in one year, the equivalent of 180 showers. Celebrezze suggests at least once per month homeowners place empty cups or mugs beneath faucets for an hour to see if any water leaks.

“When a toilet first starts leaking, you won't hear it because it's just very quiet,” said Celebrezze. “But that adds up because it's leaking all the time.”

A simple way to check for toilet leaks is to pour a dark cola into the tank and wait about 15 minutes to see if darker water appears in the bowl.

Being mindful of leaks and water efficiency helps to ensure reliable water supplies and helps to preserve local and national water resources.

The EPA recommends utilizing the following leak inspection checklist throughout your home:

BATHROOM

• Place a drop of food coloring into your toilet bowl, waiting to see if colored water appears in the bowl. Alternatively, conduct the cola test Celebrezze recommended.

• Look and listen for dripping water and turn on the tap to check for water flowing in the wrong direction.

• Run the shower and inspect the showerhead for drips.

• Turn on the tub faucet and then the shower. If water continues to run from the tub spout, the diverter may need to be replaced.

• Check beneath the sink for water pooling beneath pipes or signs of water damage and rust around joints and edges.

KITCHEN

• Listen for faucet drips and replace fixtures if necessary.

• For sinks with sprayers, ensure water is flowing smoothly. Clean openings if needed.

• Check under the sink for water pooling beneath pipes, signs of water damage and rust around joints and edges.

• Inspect dishwashers and refrigerators for pooling water. This may indicate a supply line leak.

BASEMENT

• Check the area around the water heater for signs of pooling water or damage.

LAUNDRY/UTILITY ROOM

• Inspect the area around the washing machine for pooling water or signs of damage.

• Check beneath the sink for signs of water pooling or damage.

OUTSIDE

• Don’t forget hoses. Check for leaks at the hose connection to the spigot. Replacing the nylon or rubber hose washer is often the culprit behind these types of leaks.

• Have your in-ground irrigation and sprinkler systems inspected every spring to make sure it wasn’t damaged by winter freezes.

For more information about finding and fixing leaks in your home, visit www.EPA.gov.

Wise Water Usage Tips

Water is a precious resource; less than one percent of the earth’s supply is ready and available for human use. When it is time to replace appliances and fixtures, the EPA suggests looking for WaterSense-certified products, meaning they pass government efficiency criteria.

Experts at the EPA believe if just 1 in 10 U.S. households replaced all bathroom fixtures with WaterSense-labeled products, it would save about $1.3 billion in utility costs. However, a full bathroom upgrade is not necessary to move the needle.

Celebrezze encourages residents to consider adopting some or all of the following conservation tips to make a big impact:

INSIDE

• Turn off the tap while brushing or shaving. The EPA estimates turning off the water during teeth brushing could save 200 gallons per month.

• Reduce your shower time and challenge yourself to a 5-minute shower.

• Only do full loads of laundry on the cold water setting.

• Add food scraps to your compost pile rather than throwing them into the garbage disposal.

• Use old water from dehumidifiers to water house plants.

OUTSIDE

• Skip watering the lawn.

• Opt for professional automated carwashes that use less water than washing your car in the driveway.

• Consider installing a rain barrel and use the collected water to water your lawn or ornamental plant garden.

• To help reduce stormwater runoff, consider installing a rain garden on your property.

• Sweep driveways, sidewalks and steps rather than using a hose to spray them off.

For more information, visit www.Westerville.org/Sustainability.