As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program, the 2014 Fix a Leak Week campaign encourages Americans to help put a stop to the more than 1 trillion gallons of water wasted from household leaks each year.
The Truckee Meadows Water Authority and the Southern Nevada Water Authority are supporting finding and fixing residential leaks by providing customers with informational DVDs, emails and dye tabs to check for leaks in their homes.
"Conserving Nevada's water resources is everyone's responsibility," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA's Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "Household leaks in Nevada account for nearly 10 billion gallons of water wasted each year, enough to fill the Bellagio lake 330 times."
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 10 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 program can also check your systems for leaks. Visit www.epa.gov/watersense to find WaterSense labeled products or an auditor in your area.
