News Release from EPA - WaterSense

EPA Encourages Americans to Save Water During Fix a Leak Week/ WaterSense Partner of the Year Delta Faucet Company Fixes Leaks at 2 Marietta, Ga., Shelters

Contact Information: Davina Marraccini, (404) 562-8293, marraccini.davina@epa.gov

(Atlanta, Ga. – Mar. 13, 2012) – American households waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water each year due to leaky pipes, toilets, showerheads and other fixtures, but fixing leaks can be easy and inexpensive. During the 4th annual Fix a Leak Week, March 12-18, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program is educating Americans about the importance of fixing leaks around the home, which can save water and nearly 10 percent on utility bills.

This week in Marietta, Ga., WaterSense’s 2011 Manufacturer Partner of the Year Delta Faucet Company and Marine Plumbing Company are fixing leaks at The Extension and Elizabeth Inn, part of Must Ministries, and celebrating Fix a Leak Week in partnership EPA Region 4, Cobb County Water System, Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority and waterSmart (an Atlanta-based water conservation education program). Volunteers are installing more than 100 water efficient showerheads, faucet aerators and toilet flappers, which are anticipated to save more than 560,000 gallons of water per year.

In addition to the two Marietta shelters, Delta and its partners are fixing leaks in more than 1,000 community facilities and low-income households across the country in Boston, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco and Seattle. At each location, volunteers are fixing leaky toilets and faucets, and installing WaterSense-labeled showerheads, estimated to save millions of gallons of water this year alone.

“Across the country, household leaks add up to more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually. The amount we’re losing could supply Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami for a full year,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We’re not just losing water, we’re also losing the money our communities put into keeping our water clean and healthy. That’s why Fix a Leak Week is so important, and why we encourage everyone to take a few simple steps that can add up to have a significant positive impact.”

The average American home leaks more than 10,000 gallons of water per year, which is equivalent to the water needed to wash 280 loads of laundry, take more than 600 showers or meet the average family’s water needs for a month.

Finding and fixing leaks around the home is as easy as check, twist and replace:

Check for leaks. Toilet leaks can be found by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to also check irrigation systems and spigots.

Twist and tighten pipe connections. To save even more water without a noticeable difference in flow, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator or showerhead.

Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for the WaterSense label when replacing plumbing fixtures, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models.

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes, and services. Since the program's inception in 2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save 125 billion gallons of water and more than $2 billion in water and energy bills. Consumers can find WaterSense-labeled products at thousands of retail locations across the country.