It’s Fix-a-Leak Week. The annual Environmental Protection Agency program aims to raise awareness of small water leaks and other water issues in homes and businesses.
Illinois American Water says ten drops of water per minute from a leaking shower head wastes 500 gallons annually. That’s the equivalent of 60 dishwasher loads.
Officials say there are ways to determine water leaks even if they’re not immediately visible. If your meter changes over a two-hour period when water is not in use, there’s probably a leak.
Officials also recommend putting one drop of food coloring in toilet tanks. They say there’s a leak if the bowl turns color within 10 minutes. Illinois American Water also recommends checking faucet gaskets and pipe fittings once a season.
The EPA says the average home can lose 10-thousand gallons of water a year due to minor leaks.
