Household Leaks
According to the EPA, the average household leak wastes 10,000 gallons of water each year. However, 1 in 10 homes waste at least 90 gallons of water each day in leaks. A leaky faucet dripping one drop per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year, and a leaky shower with 10 drips per minute can waste over 500 gallons of water per year. The average leaky toilet can waste about 72,000 gallons of water per year. Finding and fixing these leaks can save you 10% on your water bill.
To check for a leaky toilet, place a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank and see if it spreads into the bowl within a half-hour. If it does, that means a leak is present and gallons of water may be being wasted.
Water conservation efforts can help the homeowner save a little money while benefiting the planet as well.