City of Durham issued the following announcement on March 10.
Durham Water Department Promotes “Fix a Leak Week”
Virtual programming opportunities provide helpful guidance and fun
DURHAM, N.C. — Did you know that nearly 1,000,000,000,000 gallons of water are wasted due to leaks in American homes each year?* That’s right, nearly one trillion gallons. 12 zeros. That’s the amount of water 11 million homes use. It means a valuable natural resource is being wasted, and it’s preventable. Leaks can run, but they can’t hide. And that provides an opportunity for customers to save money by fixing water leaks in their homes.
Sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® program, Fix a Leak Week is March 14-20, 2022, and the City’s Water Department encourages residents to find and fix residential leaks with a series of fun activities and helpful tips.
“Leaks can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water in an average home every year. That’s the amount of water it takes to wash 300 loads of laundry,” said James Lim, Water Efficiency and Conservation Program Manager. “Fix a Leak Week is one of the many activities we support as a WaterSense partner. This year, we are hosting a number of virtual opportunities during Fix a Leak Week, including three virtual workshops that are free to the public.”
Fix a Leak Week Workshops (FREE to the public)
Tuesday, March 15, Noon to 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 17, 5:30 to 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 19, Noon to 12:30 p.m.
To register for these free virtual workshops, visit DurhamSavesWater.org. The Water Efficiency Team will also be at the Food Truck Rodeo at Durham Central Park on Sunday, March 20.
Virtual Scavenger Hunt
In addition to the workshops, the Department is hosting a fun and easy scavenger hunt on its website. Participants of all ages can enjoy a quick and educational quest, and City of Durham water customers that complete the scavenger hunt will be awarded prizes (limited to the first 150). The scavenger hunt runs through March 20, starting from durhamsaveswater.org.
Check, Twist, and Replace
To save water, energy, and lower bills, customers should check, twist, and replace:
Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Check for toilets with silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank, waiting 10 minutes, and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots too.
Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections. Twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator and you’ll save water and still have adequate for brushing teeth and washing hands.
Replace the fixture if necessary. WaterSense labeled models are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models. These items are included in the Water Efficiency Kits available at Durham City Hall for only $3.
In many cases, replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by the homeowner or a local plumbing professional. 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.
For more information about the events or additional conservation tips, the City’s water customers can call (919) 560-4381, e-mail savewater@durhamnc.gov or visit DurhamSavesWater.org.
Fun fact
March 11, 2022 is World Plumbing Day!
About the City of Durham Water Management Department
The Water Management Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of Durham's water supply, water treatment and water reclamation (wastewater treatment) facilities, collection and distribution systems (including meter reading), and customer billing services. The department has a wide variety of support divisions and programs to maintain the existing infrastructure that provide these integral services, and strives to be a responsible steward of the City’s physical assets. For information, visit DurhamSavesWater.org and follow @DurhamWater on Twitter and Facebook.
*Statistic comes from the EPA’s WaterSense website: Fix a Leak Week | WaterSense | US EPA
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Original source can be found here.
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