By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
This is National Fix A Leak Week — March 20 to 26 — as proclaimed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and acknowledged by the city of Hays. Residents are reminded to check their household appliances and outdoor irrigation systems.
Mason Ruder made the local proclamation before the start of last week's city work session.
It's estimated nearly one trillion gallons of water is wasted each year in the U.S. because of water leaks, according to the EPA.
Fixing those leaks can save a homeowner more than 10,000 gallons of water a year — the amount in a typical backyard swimming pool.
Most water leaks are easily detectable and easy to fix.
Common household water leaks include worn toilet tank flappers, leaking showerheads and dripping faucets and pipes. One drip every second can add up to five gallons a day.
Toilets can have silent leaks and are discoverable by placing red dye in the tank and waiting to see if the red color shows up in the bowl.
Stopping a drip may be a simple as twisting a faucet completely off.
Leaking shower heads or appliances such as a dishwater should be replaced with EPA WaterSense and Energy Star-labeled products.
WaterSense is a voluntary partnership program sponsored by the EPA to protect the future of the nation's water supply by promoting water efficiency and WaterSense-labeled products.
The city of Hays offers residents free faucet aerators and water-efficient showerheads. There are also free red dye tabs for checking leaks, all available in city hall, 1507 Main.
Information about city rebates for purchasing water-efficient washing machines, toilets, smart irrigation controllers and rain sensor shutoffs are available on the city website.
