EPA Encourages Water Conservation With Fix a Leak Week
The U.S. EPA designated March 16-20 as the first “Fix a Leak Week” to remind Americans that minor water leaks in the home account for 1 trillion gallons of wasted water each year.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, if one faucet in your home dripped once per day for a year, over 34 gallons of water would be wasted. Photo: www.canpages.ca
The week-long campaign is sponsored by the EPA’s WaterSense program, which has been helping consumers identify water-efficient products through labeling and certification since 2006. A few of the highlight include:
- The WaterSense pledge to fix a leak in your home
- A widget for sites to display water efficiency tips
Locations of potential water leaks include toilets, showers, faucets and outdoor water use. It can also be an economical issue, as fixing water leaks can save as much as 10 percent on a water bill.
Another way to preserve water is by not dumping surplus household waste down the drain, which includes everything from household cleaners to paint to unused medications. Your local community should offer events or programs to properly dispose of these items.
You can also preserve water sources in your area by recycling your waste. According to a recent report, over 1.3 million plastic bags were collected from international waterways during the 2008 International Coastal Cleanup by the Ocean Conservancy.
