By Staff Reports
(LIHUE) – The Department of Water (DOW) is offering free leak detection starter kits during the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense program’s annual “Fix a Leak Week” which is celebrated nationally from March 15 through March 19.
The free leak detection starter kits will include two toilet leak detection dye tablets (with instructions), a standard toilet flapper, a water-saving tips brochure, a DOW customer convenience card and a 9-function garden hose nozzle. Kits will be available at the DOW office beginning today, March 15 thru Friday, March 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Limit one kit per household, while supplies last.
An undetected leak could result in an unnecessary increase on your monthly water bill if it is not found and repaired right away. To help conserve our natural resources, the DOW and the EPA is encouraging consumers to follow three simple steps: Check. Twist. Replace.
Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers and other fixtures. For toilets, put a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet into the tank and wait 10 minutes. If any color appears in the bowl, your toilet has a leak. Don’t forget to also check irrigation systems and outdoor spigots. Examine your lawn for wet spots where grass seems greener. This could indicate a broken underground pipe. If you find a leak, have it repaired as soon as possible.
Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections. For additional savings, twist on a low-flow aerator to each faucet to save water without noticing a difference in flow.
Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for WaterSense labeled models, which are independently certified to use reduce water use by 20 percent and perform as well as or better than standard models.
For more information about Fix a Leak Week and other leak detection tips from the WaterSense program, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.
For more information about water conservation tips, visit www.kauaiwater.org or call the Department of Water at 245-5461 or 245-5455.