Fix A Leak Week reminds people to conserve water

The Public Utilities Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency are urging area residents to take care of any leaks one might have in their home as part of a national initiative.

Part of the EPA’s ongoing “We’re for Water” campaign, Fix a Leak Week encourages all Americans to play their part and fix any household leaks, that lead to a trillion gallons of water being wasted each year.

Fix a Leak Week runs from March 14 through March 18 and is sponsored by the EPA’s WaterSense program.

The PUC encourages Nevada residents to take part in the initiative and repair residential leaks, which can amount to 10,000 gallons of water in the average household every year. That amount of water could carry out about 270 loads of laundry, according to the EPA.

If you aren’t sure if your household has a leak or not the EPA has a few Fix a Leak Week tips.

Homeowners should check for leaks, looking for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures.

Also, check toilets with silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank, wait 10 minutes, and see if color appears in the bowl before you flush.

The EPA also cautions homeowners to not forget to check irrigation systems and spigots too.

Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections to ensure they are tight as can be, to prevent any leakage.

Also to save water without a noticeable difference in flow in your bathroom, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator.

Replace fixtures if necessary and look for WaterSense labeled models, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models, according the the EPA.

In many cases, fixture replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by handy do-it-yourselfers or local plumbing professionals. If you aren’t comfortable doing the leak inspection yourself, irrigation professionals certified through a WaterSense labeled program can check systems for leaks for you.

Visit www.epa.gov/watersense to find WaterSense labeled products or an auditor in the Pahrump area.

Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.