ORLEANS— Small drips can lead to big drains on your wallet. To combat unnecessary waste and high utility bills, the Orleans Town Water Department is officially observing “Fix a Leak Week” from March 16 through March 22.
The annual initiative serves as a critical reminder for residents and business owners to audit their plumbing systems. Even minor leaks can result in thousands of gallons of wasted water over the course of a year.
“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 Town Clerk Robert F. Henderson. “Some leaks are obvious, while others are not. But as they waste water, they waste your money, too.”
Three Essential Leak Tests
The Water Department recommends that all customers perform these three simple checks regularly to ensure their systems are airtight:
1. The Faucet Audit
Check every faucet in your building for steady drips. While a dripping faucet might seem like a minor nuisance, the cumulative waste is staggering:
- Twice per second: A faucet dripping at this rate wastes nearly 520 gallons per month.
- Annual impact: Over a year, that single leak wastes more than 6,200 gallons.
- Financial Cost: At a rate of $7.00 per 1,000 gallons, that leak costs $43.40 annually, not including the potential increase in sewer bills often calculated based on water usage.
2. The Toilet “Food Coloring” Test
Leaky toilets are often silent but can waste hundreds of gallons every single day.
- How to test: Place a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank and wait 20 minutes.
- The Result: If color appears in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak.
- Note: Be sure to flush immediately after the test to prevent the coloring from staining the tank or bowl.
3. The “Invisible” Leak Check
Underground supply lines connecting the city main to your building can leak without showing any surface signs.
- How to test: Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances.
- The Procedure: Ask the Water Department to read your meter, wait 30 minutes without using any water, and then have the meter read again. If the dial has moved, an underground leak is likely present.
Fixing these leaks is often inexpensive and can be handled with basic hardware store supplies. For more information on local water usage or to coordinate a meter reading, residents can contact Orleans Town Hall:
- Phone: 812-865-2539 (Monday–Friday, regular business hours)
- Website: www.town.orleans.in.us
