Conserving Water Indoors
Reading Your Water Meter
An important step in identifying and repairing water leaks is understanding how to find and read your water meter. Watch the video above to learn how to read your meter and search for common leaks.
Tips for locating a leak:
- If there is a main shut-off valve inside of the building, shut the valve and check the flow meter again. If the flow rate has stopped moving, the leak is likely outdoors. If the meter is still registering flow, the leak is likely indoors.
- If there is a shut-off valve to the irrigation system, close it and check the meter again. If the flow rate has stopped moving, the leak is likely outdoors.
Leaks
Common types of leaks are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, running hoses, and other leaking valves. These types of leaks are often easy to fix, requiring only a few tools and hardware.
Small leaks can equate to many gallons over a month. A leaking toilet at a flow rate of 0.25 gallons per minute will equate to 360 gallons each day which is 10,800 gallons per month. Depending on the billing rate structure, that small toilet leak can equate to a bill increase of over $50 per month.
Use the following list to check some places leaks may be hiding in your home. If all looks good inside, you may have an outdoor leak. Make sure to check your garden hoses are not leaking at the connection to the spigot, and if you have an in-ground irrigation system, check to make sure it wasn’t damaged by frost or freezing.
Learn how you can fix easy leaks on your own at the EPA’s website.
- Toilets: Listen for running water and conduct the food coloring test. Put a few drops of food coloring into the tank at the back of your toilet and let it sit for 10 minutes. If color shows up in the bowl, you have a leak.
- Faucets: Listen for drips and turn on the tap to check for water going the wrong direction.
- Showerheads: Turn on and look for drips or stray sprays that can be stopped with tape.
- In the tub: Turn on the tub, then divert the water to the shower and see if there’s still a lot of water coming from the tub spout; that could mean the tub spout diverter needs replacing.
- Under the sink: Check for pooling water under pipes and rust around joints and edges.
- Faucet: Listen for drips and tighten aerators or replace fixtures if necessary.
- Sprayer: Check to make sure water is spraying smoothly and clean openings as needed.
- Under the sink: Check for pooling water under pipes and rust around joints and edges.
- Appliances: Check for pooling water underneath dishwashers and refrigerators with ice makers, which could indicate a supply line leak.
- Under the sink: Check for pooling water under pipe connections.
- Clothes washer: Check for pooling water, which could indicate a supply line leak.
- Water heater: Check beneath the tank for pooling water, rust, or other signs of leakage.
- At the spigot: Ensure tight connections with the hose and see if the hose washer needs replacing.
- In-ground irrigation system: Check for broken sprinklers or nozzles spraying in the wrong direction. You may want to consult an irrigation auditor certified by a WaterSense labeled program to improve system efficiency: www.epa.gov/watersense/find-pro.
Indoor Water Conservation Best Practices
Replace Older Fixtures
with high efficient models and save both money and water! Check out our rebates to get the best deal.
Turn Off the Tap
when you're not actively using water. For example, when washing dishes, brushing your teeth, or shaving.
Only Run Full Loads
Wait to run your dishwasher and washing machine until you've got a full load. Scrape your dishes instead of rinsing them before loading them into the washer, and use a bsin or sink stopper when washing by hand.
Take Shorter Showers
Challenge yourself to take a 5-minute shower. Even a minute or two shorter than average adds up.
