The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has determined that the average Northeast Ohioan uses about 73 gallons of water daily.
Did you know that a leaking toilet can waste as much as 181,000 gallons ($1025.00) of water per year? A dripping faucet can waste 10,400 gallons ($59.00). A five minute shower uses 35 gallons of water, while a fifteen minute shower uses 105 gallons.
Did you know that a leaking toilet can waste as much as 181,000 gallons ($1025.00) of water per year? A dripping faucet can waste 10,400 gallons ($59.00). A five minute shower uses 35 gallons of water, while a fifteen minute shower uses 105 gallons.
High water bills? Check for leaks.
and driving up your bill. Here are some simple ways to look for slow leaks.
Start at the water meter.
- Make sure all water fixtures are off.
- Note the numbers on your meter.
- Don’t use any water for 30 minutes. Read the meter again.
- Compare the readings. If the number remains the same – no leaks. If they differ, you likely have one.
- To find the leak, start with the toilets. Turn off water going to your toilets and repeat the above steps.
- If the two meter readings match, one of your toilets is likely leaking. If the numbers don’t match, your leak is somewhere else. Check indoor and outdoor faucets, hoses, outdoor systems and appliances.
Toilets: Water Wasters
Toilets are serious water wasters. The dye test is an easy way to look for silent leaks.
- Dry all exterior surfaces of the toilet.
- Remove the tank lid.
- Flush.
- Add a teaspoon of food coloring to the tank.
- Don’t flush.
- After an hour, check the bowl for traces of the dye. If you see color, your toilet is leaking. A mechanism inside likely needs to be adjusted or repaired.
Saving Water
- Check toilets, appliances, faucets and pipes for hidden leaks and make repairs.
- Insulate water pipes to get hot water faster.
- Install water-efficient shower heads and low-flow faucet aerators.
- Take shorter showers.
- Turn off faucet while brushing teeth, shaving, washing dishes by hand and cleaning vegetables.
- Only run dishwasher and washing machine with full loads.