JEFFERSON CITY—Water leaks cost you money–money that essentially goes down the drain. There are several things that you can do to conserve water and at the same time save you money on your water bill.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide. That’s equal to the annual household water use of more than 11 million homes. The average household’s leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year, or the amount of water needed to wash 270 loads of laundry. About 10 percent of the homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more of water per day. Common leaks include worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and leaking valves.
To help consumers find and repair easy-to-fix leaks and to promote conservation, the Missouri Public Service Commission is supporting theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fix-a-Leak Week, March 14-20, 2016.
“The Public Service Commission joins with others nationwide in supporting the EPA’s ‘Fix-a-Leak’ campaign,” said PSC Chairman Daniel Hall. “Water is a vital resource and we need to do all that we can to preserve it. By fixing leaks, you are not only saving water but you are also saving money on your water bill.”
According to the EPA, a good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water usage. It is likely that a family of four has a serious water leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month.
Here are some tips to save water:
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide. That’s equal to the annual household water use of more than 11 million homes. The average household’s leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year, or the amount of water needed to wash 270 loads of laundry. About 10 percent of the homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more of water per day. Common leaks include worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and leaking valves.
To help consumers find and repair easy-to-fix leaks and to promote conservation, the Missouri Public Service Commission is supporting theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fix-a-Leak Week, March 14-20, 2016.
“The Public Service Commission joins with others nationwide in supporting the EPA’s ‘Fix-a-Leak’ campaign,” said PSC Chairman Daniel Hall. “Water is a vital resource and we need to do all that we can to preserve it. By fixing leaks, you are not only saving water but you are also saving money on your water bill.”
According to the EPA, a good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water usage. It is likely that a family of four has a serious water leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month.
Here are some tips to save water:
— Check for leaks. Silent toilet leaks can be found by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots, too.
— Twist and tighten pipe connections.
— Replace the fixture if necessary.
— Install a water saving showerhead; they use one-third the amount of water that a regular showerhead uses.
— Turn off the tap while shaving or brushing teeth.
— Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
For more tips, visit the Missouri Public Service Commission website at www.psc.mo.gov.
