(ORLEANS) – Water leaks are costly and can be even costlier than consumers might expect. To remind Orleans residents about leaks and the need to fix them, the Orleans Town Offices are observing “Fix a Leak Week” from March 16 through March 21.
“This is an important annual reminder to check your home or business for any leaks, and to repair them as quickly as you can,” said Orleans Clerk-Treasurer Robert F. Henderson. “Some leaks are obvious, while others are not. As they waste water, they waste your money, too.”
All local water customers should perform three tests regularly.
The first check is to make sure all faucets in the home or business are not dripping. They can be repaired inexpensively. If a faucet drips twice per second and goes unrepaired for a month, it will waste almost 520 gallons of water. If the same faucet isn’t repaired for a year, the wasted water will add up to more than 6,200 gallons. (As an example, if a consumer is billed at a rate of $7.00 per 1,000 gallons, such a leak would cost $43.40. The leak would also increase the consumer’s sewer bill if it is calculated based on water usage.)
Second, it’s important not to underestimate the amount of water a leaky toilet can waste. Toilets can waste hundreds of gallons every day.
An easy check is to put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank and wait 20 minutes. If any food coloring shows up in the toilet bowl, there is a leak after the test, the toilet should be flushed right away to keep the food coloring from causing stains.
Lastly, water users should make sure their home or business doesn’t have an “invisible” water leak, such as a leak in the underground supply line connecting the utility’s main to the building. This type of leak can be checked by turning off all faucets and appliances that use water, having the Water Company read the meter, not use any water for 30 minutes, then have the Water Department read the meter again. If it has moved, then there is a leak.
For more information on local water usage, call the Orleans Town Hall at 812-865-2539 or visit our website at www.town.orleans.in.us
