Politics & Government

Make Every Drop of Water Count

Metro Water District urging residents to fix plumbing leaks the week of March 12-18.

 

Plop…Plop…Plop. Is this what you hear in your kitchens and bathrooms from dripping faucets? You know the faucets need to be fixed, but you keep putting it off.

More than one trillion gallons of water are lost in homes in the United States from easy-to-fix leaks, according to the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District. That’s why the Metro Water District announced it is encouraging residents and businesses in metro Atlanta to detect and fix leaks in homes and offices during “Fix a Leak Week” March 12-18.

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The week is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense® program. 

Here’s how to identify and address those annoying and wasteful leaks:

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  • Most leaky showerheads can be fixed by making sure they’re screwed in tight. Having someone handy wrap the showerhead in “pipe tape,” a special tape available at hardware stores, and using a wrench to tighten it will help.
  • Search for toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank and wait 15 minutes. If any color shows up in the bowl without flushing first, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after doing this test to avoid staining the tank.)
  • A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. To save more water without a noticeable difference in flow, twist on a WaterSense-labeled faucet aerator.
  • If it is time to replace a fixture, look for products with WaterSense labels, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models. 
  • The Metro Water District and participating water providers are offering a toilet rebate program to customers replacing their older, less-efficient toilets with an approved low-flow toilet. Call 404-463-8645 for more information.

The Metro Water District website also offers a Do It Yourself Household Water Audit which shows you how to read your water bill, estimate your in-home water usage and how to conserve water through simple behavior changes. 

So grab a wrench or contact your favorite handyman, plumber or irrigation specialist to address leaking toilets, faucets, and irrigation systems around your home. 


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