Fix leaks, stop wasting water and money

Indiana American Water is encouraging customers to decrease water waste and save on their bills by fixing household water leaks during the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fix-a-Leak Week. The annual awareness campaign, organized by EPA’s WaterSense program, is being observed this week through March 22.

“Fix-a-Leak Week is all about empowering people to save water and money,” said Indiana American Water President Matt Prine. “A small investment of time and a few dollars to repair plumbing and fixture leaks can really pay off in the long run by reducing water and sewer bills.”

According to the EPA, the average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and 10 percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. The most common types of leaks result from worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. Fixing these leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills.

Indiana American Water offers these tips for detecting water leaks:

• Assess your water usage during a colder month. If a family of four uses more than 12,000 gallons during the month, there is likely at least one – or more likely several – serious leaks.
• If your water meter is accessible, check it at the start and end of a two-hour period during which no water is being used (i.e. when no one is home). If the meter changes, there is most likely a leak.
• Place a drop of food coloring in your toilet tank and see if the water in the bowl changes colors within 10 minutes.
• At least once a season, and especially after extreme temperature changes, check faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for surface leaks, indicated by water on the exterior of the pipes.

To further assist customers with at-home leak repairs and prevention, American Water has also produced a helpful infographic including tips on finding and fixing common, and some not-so-common, indoor and outdoor water leaks. A downloadable leak detection kit is also available online through Indiana American Water’s website at indianaamwater.com.