Conserve water during Fix-a-Leak Week, March 16-22

With the current dry season affecting Miami-Dade County, conserving water is more important than ever. From March 16 through March 22, the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) encourages residents to participate in Fix-a-Leak Week, a national effort to reduce water waste by finding and repairing household leaks.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, household leaks can waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water nationwide each year, with the average home losing nearly 10,000 gallons annually enough to wash 270 loads of laundry. Common sources of leaks include toilet flappers, dripping faucets, showerheads, and outdoor irrigation systems. Even small leaks can add up, wasting water and increasing utility bills.

Here are some simple ways to check for leaks to help save water for future generations: 

• Check for leaks: Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Also, check for silent leaks in toilets by adding a few drops of food coloring to the tank, waiting 10 minutes, and seeing if the color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots, too
• Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections: To save water without a noticeable difference in flow in your bathroom, twist on a WaterSense-labeled faucet aerator.
• 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.
  Customers who locate and repair underground or concealed leaks may also be eligible for credits on their water bills. 
  WASD conducts proactive leak detection across its water distribution system and, in 2025, saved more than 2.3 million gallons of water by prioritizing repairs on over 8,500 miles of water mains.
  In many cases, fixture replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by handy do-it-yourselfers or local plumbing professionals. Irrigation professionals certified through a WaterSense-labeled program can also check your systems for leaks.

For additional water conservation tips and to read the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department's Leak Detection Guide, go to WASD's Leak Detection Guide.The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department remains committed to providing safe, reliable, and efficient water service while promoting responsible water use throughout the County. For more information about services and programs, visit www.miamidade.gov/water.

It is the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department's priority to provide safe, reliable service to its customers.