As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ongoing “We’re for Water” campaign, this year’s Fix a Leak Week encourages Americans to help put a stop to the nearly 1 trillion gallons of water wasted from household leaks each year.

Citrus County Water Resources Promotes “Fix a Leak Week”

Sponsored by EPA’s WaterSense® program, Fix a Leak Week is Monday, March 7 through Sunday, March 20, 2022. In support of “We’re for Water,” Citrus County Water Resources is promoting finding and fixing residential leaks in Citrus County.

“Leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water in an average home every year—the amount of water it takes to wash 300 loads of laundry,” said Debra Burden, Citrus County Department of Water Resources, water conservation manager. “As a WaterSense partner, we are encouraging consumers to find and fix leaks to save water in our community.”

To help save water for future generations, the County is asking consumers to check, twist, and replace:

• 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.

Citrus County Utilities has toilet leak detection tablets available to citizens at the Lecanto Government Building, located at 3600 W Sovereign Path, Lecanto. The utility also offers a free one-time training to its account holders. Call (352) 527-7669 to schedule an appointment.

For more information on Fix a Leak Week, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

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 trillions of gallons of water and billions in water and energy bills. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.