Fix a Leak Week 

EPA Fix a Leak Week is March 20-26, 2023

The Water Division is encouraging residents to check homes for unknown water leaks. According to the U.S. EnvironmentalFALW 2023 Opens in new window Protection Agency, 10 percent of homes have leaks that can waste 90 gallons or more per day-enough to fill 1,440 glasses of water. Household leaks not only can waste a tremendous amount of water, they also can damage your home and garden.

Learn how to detect and chase down water leaks with tips from the Water Division and the EPA for national Fix a Leak week. Follow the DPW on Twitter @wellesleydpw for updates and activities. 

Water Leak Tips

To save water, energy, and lower bills, customers should check, twist, and replace:

  • Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Check for toilets with silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank, waiting 10 minutes, and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots too.
  • Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections. Twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator and you’ll save water and still have adequate for brushing teeth and washing hands.
  • Replace the fixture if necessary. WaterSense labeled models are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models. 

The facts on indoor leaks:

  • The average household's leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted, or the amount of water needed to wash 270 loads of laundry.
  • Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons annually nationwide. That's equal to the annual household water use of more than 11 million homes.
  • 10 percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.
  • Common types of leaks found in the home include worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. All of them are easily correctable.
  • Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills.
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The facts on outdoor leaks:

  • Outdoor water use can account for up to 50 percent of a home’s total water use
  • Outdoor water leaks can be found in many areas: spigots, garden hoses, irrigation systems, pools & saunas.
  • Ways to detect outdoor leaks: pooled water, soft, squishy, or sunken areas of the yard, regular refilling of a pool or sauna, high water bills.