EPA – 10,000 gallons of water wasted by an average household each year

BELLEVILLE – According to the EPA, the average household in the U.S. loses approximately 10,000 gallons of water waste each year thanks to minor leaks. With more than 11 million homes in the U.S., this equates to more than one trillion gallons of water lost nationwide every year due to leaks in the home. Illinois American Water is encouraging customers to help decrease water waste with helpful tips.
Check your water bill monthly. If the usage increases to above average and there was no change in your home size, there most likely is a leak.
Check your water meter at the start and end of a two-hour period during which no water is being used (i.e., when no one is home). If the meter changes, there most likely is a leak.
Place a drop of food coloring in your toilet tank and see if the water in the bowl changes colors within 10 minutes. If so, you have a leak.
At least once a season – and especially after extreme temperature changes – check faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for surface leaks, indicated by water on the exterior of the pipes.
Check in-ground irrigation systems and hoses each spring. Make sure they weren’t damaged by frost or freezing.
“More than two in three Americans have experienced a water leak at their home,” said Beth Matthews, vice president of operations. “If every one of our Illinois customers fixed a household leak, they could contribute to millions, or even billions, of gallons of water saved in a year.”