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EPA Encourages Saving Water During Fix a Leak Week

Release Date: 03/14/2012
Contact Information: Contact: David Sternberg 215-814-5548 [email protected]

(PHILADELPHIA March 14, 2011) – American households waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water each year due to leaky pipes, toilets, showerheads and other fixtures, but fixing leaks can be easy and inexpensive. During the 4th annual Fix a Leak Week, March 12-18, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program is educating Americans about the importance of fixing leaks around the home, which could save water and nearly 10 percent on utility bills.

WaterSense’s 2011 Manufacturer Partner of the Year, Delta Faucet Company and its partners are retrofitting more than 140 households in the Philadelphia-area including two Ronald McDonald Houses, with toilet flappers, faucet aerators and WaterSense labeled showerheads.

The average American home leaks more than 10,000 gallons of water per year, which is equivalent to the water needed to wash 280 loads of laundry, take more than 600 showers or meet the average family’s water needs for a month.

“Fix a Leak Week is a time for us to highlight the benefits of finding and fixing residential leaks,” said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “So we’re urging everyone to take three basic steps – check, twist and replace.”

· Check for leaks. Toilet leaks can be found by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to also check irrigation systems and spigots.

· Twist and tighten pipe connections. To save even more water without a noticeable difference in flow, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator or showerhead.

· Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for the WaterSense label when replacing plumbing fixtures, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models.