Did you know that March 17-23 is Fix a Leak Week?

Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this week brings attention to water leaks, which are a serious concern, especially in drought- stricken California.

A leak doesn’t seem like a big deal? It is.

• Each year, more than 1 trillion gallons of water are lost to leaks nationwide. That is equivalent to the annual use of more than 11 million homes. That is a LOT of precious water being lost!
• Eight percent of the water used in a typical single-family California home is wasted due to leaks, according to a 2011 study.
• A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. That’s the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers.
• An irrigation system with a leak 1/32 of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste 6,300 gallons of water per month.

The San Diego County Water Authority and its member agencies are paying extra attention to leak eradication during Fix a Leak Week by offering special classes, promoting home and business water-use check-ups, and giving away dye tablets to help detect leaky toilets.

We’ve partnered with the County Water Authority to make sure you have access to the dye tablets and the valuable information to help you learn about potential leaks in your home. Find us at a Beach Cleanup or visit our office to pick yours up.

For full details on classes, check-ups and other Leak Week offerings, visit www.sdcwa.org/fixaleakweek This is also a good reminder to those of us who call America’s Finest City home that more than 80 percent of our water is imported from outside the area. The single best way to increase local water supply is by using less and wasting none. Check out our other water conservation tips and save some water today.