SAN FRANCISCO-As part of the E.P.A.'s WaterSense program, the 2014 Fix a Leak Week campaign encourages Americans to help put a stop to the in excess of one trillion gallons of water wasted from household leaks each year.
The Irvine Ranch Water District is promoting finding and fixing residential leaks through the "Be a Leak Detective, Get Rewarded" contest where residents submit a photo of themselves inspecting their irrigation systems and are automatically entered into a contest for a $500 gift card.
In Valencia, the local water company is supporting the effort through an outreach campaign to fix running toilet bowls in the "Running Toilet Bowl Roundup." They are reaching out to high water users and offering home visits. The roundup campaign features print and radio public service announcements.
"During a time of severe drought, finding ways to conserve our precious water is everyone's responsibility," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA's Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "Household leaks in California account for 124 billion gallons of water wasted each year, in excess of twice the volume of water that can be stored in Pyramid Lake.
To help save water for future generations, we are asking consumers to check, twist, and replace:
§ Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Also check for toilets with silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank, waiting ten minutes; if color appears in the bowl before you flush, there is a leak. Don't forget to check irrigation systems and spigots too.
§ Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections.
§ Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for WaterSense labeled models, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models and, to save water without a noticeable difference in flow in your bathroom, install WaterSense labeled faucet aerator.
In many cases, high efficiency fixtures pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by handy do-it-yourselfers or local plumbing professionals. Irrigation professionals certified through a WaterSense labeled plan can also check your systems for leaks. Visit
www.epa.gov/watersense to find WaterSense labeled products or an auditor in your area.
On January 17 Governor Brown declared a drought state of emergency. Water supplies remain far below normal despite recent rain and snowfall. If everyone does their part to conserve water in their daily lives, we can save millions of gallons of pure water that are now wasted. The cheapest source of new water is the water saved by using what we already have more wisely.
For more information on Fix a Leak Week, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.
