The City of Brighton is teaming up with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program to promote the EPA’s annual Fix a Leak Week from March 14-20. The goal of the campaign is to encourage residents to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for potential leaks. For this year’s Fix a Leak Week, the Brighton Utilities Department is calling on residents, business owners and nonprofit organizations to check for and fix leaks on their property.

According to the EPA, the average household’s leaks can account for more than 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 in the home are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and other leaking valves. These types of leaks are often easy to fix and can save homeowners about 10-percent on their water bills.

According to the EPA, to check for leaks, you need to first determine whether you’re wasting water if there is a leak and to then identify the source. Here are some tips:

• Check your utility bill during a colder month, such as January or February. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there is a considerable leak.
• Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
• Take a toilet test by placing a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak.
• Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.
• Use the EPA 10-Minute WaterSense Challenge checklist to keep track of your search for leaks: Detect and Chase Down Leaks at Home Checklist. 

In many cases, fixture replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by handy do-it-yourselfers or local plumbing professionals.  

For more information on Fix a Leak Week and tips for finding leaks in your home, visit epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week.