Water leaks cause the average U.S. family to waste nearly 10,000 gallons of water per year—enough for 270 loads of laundry! That’s why the City of Allen is joining forces with cities nationwide in the EPA’s annual Fix A Leak Week. Residents can pick up a leak detector tablet in Utility Billing at Allen City Hall. Simply place the tablet in your toilet tank and wait 10-20 minutes; if the water in your toilet bowl turns the same color as the tablet, you have a leak. The EPA provides other tips for leak detection, including:
• Examining your winter water usage. If your winter use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month for a family of four, you likely have a serious leak.
• Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is used. If the meter readings are not identical, you probably have a leak.
• Inspect irrigation systems each spring to ensure it was not damaged by frost. Even a tiny leak, with an opening no bigger than a toothpick, can waste thousands of gallons of water per month.
Residents can find instructions on how to find (and fix!) leaky shower heads, toilets and faucets by visiting CityofAllen.org/FixLeaks.