The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) encourages Ohioans to participate in “Fix a Leak Week” from March 16 to 20 by fixing water leaks around their homes. More than 1 trillion gallons of water are wasted in U.S. homes each year from easy to fix leaks.

Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense® program, “Fix a Leak Week” is an opportunity to improve water efficiency across the country by checking for and fixing leaks, which waste an average of 11,000 gallons of water per home each year – more than enough water to fill up a backyard swimming pool.

Here are a few easy steps to identify and address leaks in the home:

• Check the water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, a leak is probably present.
• Search for toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl without flushing first, a leak is present. (Be sure to flush immediately to avoid staining the tank.)
• Review your water bill. If a family of four uses more than 12,000 gallons per month during the winter, leaks are likely.
• Consumers who are in the market for a new toilet or faucet, should look for WaterSense labeled products that use 20 percent less water and perform as well or better than standard models. The vast majority of leaks can be eliminated after retrofitting a house with new WaterSense labeled fixtures and other high-efficiency appliances.

As a WaterSense partner concerned with conserving our nation’s water supply, the PUCO can help you learn more. Visit www.PUCO.ohio.gov and click on the “Fix a Leak Week” link for helpful water conservation tips. Additional information about “Fix a Leak Week” and a complete list of WaterSense labeled products are available on the WaterSense Web site at www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak.

The PUCO is the state of Ohio agency that regulates investor-owned water and wastewater companies. The Commission does not regulate municipal, county, cooperative, or district providers of water and wastewater service.