The Iowa Utilities Board has teamed up with two national organizations to promote “Fix-a-Leak Week” that runs through March 24th. Utilities board spokesman, Rob Hillesland, says the idea is to make everyone aware of ways to prevent water from unintentionally going down the drain.
“The board just thought it was good to get information out there — especially considering the recent drought in Iowa and the midwest — where people have really come to realize what an important resource water is,” Hillesland explains. “And also because spring is coming up and water use usually increases quite dramatically in the spring.”
The I.U.B. is partnering with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to promote water efficiency and conservation. “A real simple thing that people can do is to just check all of your showerheads, your faucets and your toilets and see if you’ve got drips and leaks. And you can also if you don’t use water for awhile, periodically check your water meter and see if it has been moving or not,” Hillesland says.
If the meter moves and you haven’t been using water, then the water is leaking out somewhere in your home. Hillesland says people who are handy can replace washers in faucets to prevent drips, or if need be, replace old faucets with new ones.
“If there is a situation where you need to replace a faucet or some kind of plumbing fixture, people should look for the Water Sense label and that will ensure that the fixture has optimal water efficiency and performance,” Hillesland says. He says the EPA has lots of information on how to find and fix water leaks, or find water efficient products and services on its Water Sense website at: www.epa.gov/watersense.
Officials estimate over one trillion gallons of water is wasted each year nationwide from minor household leaks.