Fix a Leak Week, created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and supported by WaterSense partners across the U.S. and Canada, aims to raise awareness about water leaks and provide resources to find and address common household leaks.
EPA estimates that average household 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. Common leaks include worn toilet flaps, dripping faucets, or appliances. These types of leaks are often easy to fix, requiring only a few tools and hardware that can pay for themselves in water savings. Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills.
In communities with older homes and aging water infrastructure, water loss within the home and in the overall water system supplying water to the home is common. These water leaks contribute to water and energy waste and public health concerns. Water system and in-home plumbing leaks are costly for residents and community water suppliers.
Learn more about water conservation by watching EGLE’s Water Conservation: In-home Solutions and Resources for Michigan Residents webinar.
Learn how you can find and fix leaks in just 3 steps!
Water is part of what makes us love Michigan (the Great Lakes are the largest fresh surface water system on earth, and don’t forget what’s underneath us – groundwater!) It’s important to be good stewards to this amazing resource that surrounds us.
Did you know that less than 1% of all water on Earth can be used by people?! That’s part of why it’s important to use water wisely, and leaking water is wasted water. Think about all the times you use water during the day. Now think about how many people are also using water around the world (about 8 BILLION people).
Water is essential to life – we all need to continue using it – and we should do our best in using it wisely. Finding and fixing leaks in our homes and schools is one way to help reduce water waste.
Teacher Resources
Visit EPA’s WaterSense for Kids for more educational and teacher resources.
According to EPA, the average household loses more than 10,000 gallons of water each year through leaks. Some water leaks are slow and difficult to detect, yet even the smallest leaks can add up quickly. Fixing easily corrected household leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills, and fortunately, most leaks are easy to find if you know where to look! Use EPA's at-home checklist and read some tips below to help you find leaks:
EPA has a lot of resources on finding and fixing leaks on the EPA Fix a Leak Week page, including video tutorials. Be sure to check it out!
If you've already determined you have leaks and these resources aren't enough to stop them, it might be time to contact a plumbing professional. When replacing fixtures, consider those with a WaterSense label, which could increase your home's water efficiency and lower your bill.
This week we hope you learn about why leaks are important and ways to find and repair some common household leaks. We also hope you share this information with friends, family, or via your social media network. If you’d like to share any of your Fix a Leak Week activities or some information on finding and fixing leaks, please tag your posts with #FixALeakWeek. We’d love to see what you do!
Some suggested language and graphics are included below for you to use on social media.
