Fix a Leak Week: March 14-20, 2022
During this week, the City of Savannah would like to help spread awareness in our community of the importance of fixing water leaks in your home. Water leaks waste our drinking water, and can cause your water bill to increase dramatically. Help conserve our natural resources and save money on your bill by finding and fixing water leaks.
The average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. Common types of leaks found in the home are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves.
Finding Leaks at Home
Toilet leaks: Old or worn-out toilet flappers (e.g., valve seal) are often the cause of leaks. Flappers are inexpensive rubber parts that can build up minerals or decay over time. Replacing them can be a quick and easy fix for your water woes. To fix this leak, consult your local hardware store, home improvement retailer, or licensed plumber.
Shower leaks: A showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons per year. That’s the amount of water it takes to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher. Some leaky showerheads can be fixed by making sure there is a tight connection between the showerhead and the pipe stem and by using pipe tape to secure it. Pipe tape, also called Teflon tape, is available at most hardware stores, is easy to apply, and can help control leaks. For more complicated valve leaks in showers that drip when not in use, contact a licensed plumber.
Irrigation leaks: If you have an in-ground irrigation system, check it each spring before use to make sure it wasn’t damaged by frost or freezing. An irrigation system that has a leak 1/32nd of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month. If you need help, hire an irrigation professional to inspect it for you.
Bill Adjustments for Leaks
If you receive a high water bill due to a leak, once you make necessary repairs you can apply for an adjustment on your City of Savannah utilities bill. Learn more about leak adjustments.