Conserve water with simple tips during Fix a Leak Week

(MIAMI, MARCH 16, 2015) – The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) encourages County residents to participate in “Fix a Leak Week” that begins today through March 22 in an effort to help put a stop to the more than one trillion gallons of water wasted from American households as a result of leaks each year.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of wasted water in an average home every year—the amount of water it takes to wash 270 loads of laundry.

About 50 percent of all households have some kind of plumbing leak, leading to thousands of gallons of unused water a year, which adds up on your water bill. Most of these leaks are due to worn out washers, flappers or faulty tank valves.

To help save water for future generations, WASD is 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 10 minutes, and seeing if 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.

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 water conservation tips and to read the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department’s Leak Detection Guide go to www.miamidade.gov/conservation/water_conservation_tips.asp.
It is the priority of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department to provide safe, reliable service to its customers. For additional information about Department services and programs, visit www.miamidade.gov/water.