To help conserve water and save money on monthly bills, San Gabriel County Water District (SGCWD) encourages their customers to repair drips and other plumbing issues during Fix a Leak Week, March 14-20.
“The best time to fix a water leak is as soon as it is spotted. The second-best time to make a repair is now,” said SGCWD General Manager Jim Prior. “Fixing even small leaks and drips quickly will help our customers avoid more expensive repairs in the future.”
The most common locations of water leaks include toilets, faucets, showerheads, and irrigation systems. If you hear the toilet running water even when it hasn’t been flushed recently, it is a sign of a slow leak. In many cases, replacing the flapper inside the toilet tank is a quick and simple repair that can save about 200 gallons of water each day. Dripping showerheads and faucets may seem minor, but one drip each second adds up to 3,000 gallons of wasted water each year. Be sure to also check around water heaters, dishwashers and washing machines.
“California is in an extreme drought, and we all need to do our part to avoid wasting water,” said SGCWD Board of Directors President Larry Taylor. “Fixing leaks helps preserve the water supply for all of us, while also saving money for customers.”
Small leaks in pipes can be a sign of more significant problems to come. Emergency repairs to burst pipes can be more costly than planned fixes, and flood damage will create a mess and potentially require the replacement of floors, walls, and other personal property.
Fix a Leak Week was first observed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2009 to teach people how to identify and repair household leaks. Visit www.SGCWD.com/water-use-efficiency to learn more about water efficiency and get ideas on how to conserve indoors and outdoors.
