Fix That Leaky Faucet, County Urges Residents

Drip. Drip. Drip.

That noise is not only irritating, it’s wasteful, and Camden County is encouraging residents to do something about it.

The County’s Office of Sustainability is encouraging county residents to find and fix leaks around the house as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Fix a Leak Week” March 20-26.

“Leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water in an average home every year,” Camden County Freeholder Freeholder Jonathan Young, liaison to the Camden County Office of Sustainability, said. “That is the same amount of water it takes to wash 270 loads of laundry.”

The county recommends the following:

• Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Also 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. To save water without a noticeable difference in flow in your bathroom, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator.
• Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for WaterSense labeled models, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models.

In many cases, fixture replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by handy do-it-yourselfers or local plumbing professionals. Irrigation professionals certified through a WaterSense labeled program can also check your systems for leaks.

Visit www.epa.gov/watersense to find WaterSense labeled products or an auditor in your area.

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes, and services.

Since the program's inception in 2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save more than 1 trillion of gallons of water and billions in water and energy bills.

Patch file photo