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Fix-A-Leak Week Addresses Tampa Bay Area Drought

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 18, 2009

That pesky leaky faucet or toilet makes a difference when people are looking for ways to save water.
And with the Tampa Bay region in a multiyear drought, local water officials are encouraging residents to take any measures possible to cut back on waste.

Minor leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year in U.S. homes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In light of that, the agency launched Fix-A-Leak Week this week, reminding Americans of the environmental and economic benefits of fixing leaking household plumbing fixtures.

In most cases, fixture replacement parts can be installed by do-it-yourselfers and pay for themselves in a short amount of time by saving on water bills.

And looking for the WaterSense label for replacement parts helps, too. The EPA's WaterSense program labels plumbing parts that save water and are high quality, including faucets, shower heads and toilets.

The EPA offers the following tips for saving water:

• Reduce faucet leaks by checking washers and gaskets for wear and, if necessary, replace the faucet with a WaterSense labeled model.

• Leaky toilets are most often the result of a worn flapper, the water barrier between the tank and the bowl. Replacing the rubber flapper is a quick fix that could save a home up to 200 gallons of water a day.

• For a leaky garden hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.

• Landscape irrigation systems should be checked each spring before use to make sure they are not damaged by frost or hard freezes.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at yhammett@tampatrib.com or (813) 865-1566.

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