You turn on the faucet, and the water flows. Pure water is something we can take for granted, but it’s a fact that water is not an endless resource.

NID is proud to join in this year’s Fix-A-Leak Week from March 20-26. This is an annual awareness campaign organized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to show the public the massive amounts of water waste caused by ordinary household leaks, such as running toilets and leaky faucets. These small leaks add up to a huge amount of wasted water.

Detect and Chase Down Leaks

Toilets: Listen for running water and conduct the dye test. *Dye Test– place a dye tablet or a few drops of food coloring into the tank of the toilet and let it sit for 10 minutes. If color shows up in the bowl, you have a leak. Make sure to flush afterward to avoid staining, and consider replacing your old flapper if it is torn or worn. Toilet dye tabs can be found in the NID main lobby.

Faucets: Listen for drips and tighten aerators or replace fixtures if necessary.

Here's a checklist for detecting leaks in the laundry or utility room:

 Tip:  Don't forget garden hoses!  Check your garden hose for leaks at its connection to the spigot. If it leaks while you run your hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.

Imagine: No water to drink, or even to make coffee with. No water to shower, flush the toilet, or do laundry. Farmers couldn’t water their crops. Hospitals would close without water. Firefighters couldn’t put out fires.