Did you know that household leaks waste approximately one trillion gallons of water annually throughout the U.S.?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average household’s leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year. In fact, 10 percent of all U.S. homes have leaks that waste at least 90 gallons per day. That’s a lot of money flowing down the drain!
The EPA’s annual Fix a Leak Week will be March 18–24. While this event spotlights household leak detection and repairs through nationwide contests and fun runs, you don’t have to wait until then to find and fix any leaks in and around your home — and start saving valuable water and money.
It’s not the little leak that wastes water, but the little leak that keeps on leaking that wastes water, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) — the science agency of the U.S. Department of Interior. But because a leak seems so little is the reason why we tend to ignore it.
How does a little leak turn into a big waste of water? Many people are surprised to learn that the largest use of household water is from flushing the toilet. Many of our toilets have a continuous leak amounting to around 22 gallons per day, which translates into about 8,000 gallons of wasted water per year.
A single faucet that only drips a small amount can also add up to a lot of wasted water. One drip per minute translates into approximately 34 gallons per day, or more than 12,000 gallons of wasted water per year. If a water line coming into your home leaks a gallon of water every 10 minutes, you are losing 144 gallons per day, or more than 52,000 gallons per year.
Worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets or showerheads, and leaky valves are usually easy to fix, saving homeowners approximately 10 percent on their water bills.
While estimates vary, each household member uses an average of 80 to 100 gallons of water per day, according to the USGS. This includes all household water usage, such as showers, toilets, dishwashers and washers. If your water usage significantly exceeds that figure for an extended period of time, you definitely need to check your home for any possible leaks.
Leak detection tips include:
- Check your water usage during a colder month — such as February. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there are likely some significant leaks.
- Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. Any change in the meter indicates a probable leak.
- Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak.
- To check for surface leaks, examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water outside of the pipe.