Did you know that households in America loose almost a trillion gallons of water every year? That’s trillion, with a T. And most of that water is lost because of simple household leaks. A dripping faucet here, a running toilet there, and pretty soon you’re looking at a small ocean of wasted water.
The earth is about 71% water, but we can’t drink the water that is in the oceans or the polar ice caps. In fact, less than 1% of the water on earth is fresh water that is available for us to use. Once you realize that, wasting a trillion gallons a year starts to sound pretty ominous. Besides, wasted water causes your water and sewer bills to go up. Nobody wants to pay for water they aren’t using.
The Public Service Commission observes Fix a Leak every March, but water conservation is something we promote every day. Visit our website at www.psc.state.wv.us and scroll down to Conservation to find a link called Lower Your Water Bill. It lists many water saving ideas, large and small.
So, how can you help stop the waste? The most important thing you can do is chase down and stop household leaks. Start by checking your water bill. If there is an unexplained spike, you probably have a leak. Next, read your water meter and don’t use any water in your house for two hours. When you read your meter again at the end of the two hours, it should be exactly the same as the first reading. If not, you have a leak.
If any fixtures or appliances need to be replaced, look for the WaterSense label. They are guaranteed to use at least 20% less water and to perform as well or better than standard models.
Finally, do the toilet test. Put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank and wait 10 minutes. If you see color in the bowl, there’s a leak. A simple flapper replacement is probably all you need. Use that 10 minutes to check for leaks throughout your home. Look everywhere there are pipes or water-using appliances. Any sign of mold or moisture may point to a leak, and leaks only get worse. It is much less expensive to stop a leak than to keep paying for wasted water.
