In
partnership with the EPA, GreenPlumbers USA, United Way, Ronald McDonald House,
and various local water utilities and governments, Delta Faucet is fixing leaks this week in
more than 1,000 low-income households and community facilities in Boston,
Philadelphia, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco and
Seattle.
American
households waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water each year due to leaky
pipes, toilets, showerheads and other fixtures, but fixing leaks can be easy
and inexpensive. During the 4th annual Fix a Leak Week, March 12-18, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program is educating Americans
about the importance of fixing leaks around the home, which will save water and
nearly 10% on utility bills.
WaterSense’s
2011 Manufacturer Partner of the Year
Delta Faucet Co., in partnership with the
EPA, GreenPlumbers USA, United Way, Ronald McDonald House, and various local
water utilities and governments, is fixing leaks this week in more than 1,000
low-income households and community facilities in Boston, Philadelphia,
Atlanta, Indianapolis, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco and Seattle.
Delta will fix leaky toilets and faucets, and install WaterSense-labeled showerheads
in each location; it estimates that these actions will save millions of gallons
of water this year alone.
“The
amount [of water] we’re losing could supply Los Angeles,
Chicago and Miami for a full year,” said EPA
Administrator
Lisa P. Jackson. “We’re not just
losing water, we’re also losing the money our communities put into keeping our
water clean and healthy. That’s why Fix a Leak Week is so important, and why we
encourage everyone to take a few simple steps that can add up to have a
significant positive impact.”
The
average American home leaks more than 10,000 gallons of water per year, which
is equivalent to the water needed to wash 280 loads of laundry, take more than
600 showers or meet the average family’s water needs for a month.
Finding
and fixing leaks around the home is as easy as check, twist and replace:
-
Check for leaks. Toilet leaks can be found by
putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank and seeing if color appears
in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to also check irrigation systems and
spigots.
-
Twist and tighten pipe connections. To save even
more water without a noticeable difference in flow, twist on a WaterSense-labeled
faucet aerator or showerhead.
-
Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for the
WaterSense label when replacing plumbing fixtures, which are independently
certified to use 20% less water and perform as well as or better than standard
models.
WaterSense,
a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation’s
water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with
water-efficient products, new homes and services. Since the program’s inception
in 2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save 125 billion gallons of water and
more than $2 billion in water and energy bills.
For
more information about finding and fixing leaks, visit
www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak. For more
information on WaterSense or to find a retailer in your area that carries
WaterSense-labeled products, visit
www.epa.gov/watersense.
Source:
EPALinks
