Fix a Leak Week

March 16–22 is EPA's Fix a Leak Week — and Lake Oswego is joining water providers across the country to help residents find and fix the drips.  Nationally, household leaks waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water per year. Fixing a leaking toile. Ten percent of homes have leaks wasting 90 gallons or more per day. Fix a leak, save water, and protect the Clackamas River watershed we all depend on.

Do a 3-step home leak check this month:

1. Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is used. If the reading changes, you may have a leak.

2. Test your toilets with a dye tablet (available free in your City Conservation Kit).

3. Inspect outdoor hose connections, showerheads, and faucets.  The Regional Water Providers Consortium offers excellent how-to videos at regionalh2o.org

Every year the City of Lake Oswego asks our community to participate in Fix a Leak Week to find and repair household water leaks. 

The Facts on Leaks:

Home water leaks can waste enough water in a year to fill a backyard swimming pool.

Collectively, all residential leaks could fill nearly a trillion gallon milk jugs—enough water for Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami combined.

Common leaks include running toilets, dripping faucets, and leaking pipes, most of which are easily fixable.

Fixing leaks can save over 10 percent on water bills (like saving $1 for every $10 spent).

Finding Leaks:

Water Meter Test: Check your home's water meter, then avoid using any water for two hours. If the meter reading changes, you likely have a leak.

Walk through your house listening for running toilets and looking for drips.

Toilet Dye Test: Place food coloring in the toilet tank. If color appears in the bowl after a few minutes without flushing, the toilet is leaking silently.

Faucets:

A faucet dripping once per second can waste over 3,000 gallons annually.

Drips are often caused by worn-down washers and gaskets, which can be easily replaced.

Aerators: A screen device on the faucet tip that adds air to the water stream, reducing water use without noticeable flow change. Look for the WaterSense label when buying aerators or faucets.

Showers:

Leaky showerheads can waste over 500 gallons per year (e.g., a showerhead dripping 10 drips per minute). This is enough to wash 60 loads of dishes.

Most leaks can be fixed by tightening the showerhead, possibly with pipe tape and a wrench.

Toilets:

A running toilet, even when not recently flushed, can waste 200+ gallons of water daily. Jiggling the handle or replacing a part may fix it.

Many leaks are caused by a decayed or broken "flapper" (the rubber piece that controls water flow from the tank to the bowl). This is an inexpensive, replaceable part.

When replacing a leaky toilet, choose one with the WaterSense label to save water and money.

Outdoors:

Garden Hoses: Check for leaks where the hose connects to the house. Tighten the connection, replace the hose washer, or wrap the "spigot" (metal faucet) in pipe tape.

Sprinkler Systems: Remind parents to check the system each spring for winter damage or leaks before turning it on.

More Information: Visit www.epa.gov/watersense.