Contributed by Nora DePalma
Is the steady drip - drip - drip of a leaky faucet keeping you up at night? Well no wonder - not only is it an annoyance, it's wasting more water than you might think. In the average American home, leaky pipes, faucets, and toilets send about 10,000 gallons of clean drinking water down the drain every year. Nationwide, that adds up to 1 trillion gallons of wasted water every year.
Ready to fix that leak yet? It's the perfect time, as the fourth annual Fix-a-Leak Week is upon us. Every year, the EPA's WaterSense Program teams up with partners around the country to help promote this special observance, happening this year from March 12 - 18. Fixing household leaks might not sound like the most exciting holiday, but keep in mind that 2012 celebrations include everything from showerhead giveaways in New Mexico to special workshops teaching kids to be "Leak Detectives" in West Virginia. In 2011, an Arizona community even sponsored a race lead by a giant toilet mascot to draw attention to the issue of leaks.
Want to participate? There are a lot of different ways to help - even some that don't involve jogging behind a toilet.
-Pledge to take action against the leaks in your own home. It may be annoying to call up the plumber or dig out your wrench, but the savings on your water bill (not to mention the satisfaction of making a positive environmental choice) are more than worth it.
-Search for an event in your area. From DIY lessons on replacing a toilet flapper to demonstrations of water-saving products, cities across the country are getting involved.
-Get in there and fix a leak! The WaterSense website has lots of great resources to help you roll up your sleeves, find, and then fix household leaks yourself.
Posted: 3/15/2012 3:20:21 PM by
Heather Wallace | with 0 comments