Whether inside or outside your home, water leaks can cause several problems and create significant damage in and around your property. When leaky pipes go unnoticed or are left untreated, they can cause flooding, mold, warp walls, produce poor water quality, and damage the foundation.
Even the smallest leaks can wreak havoc on your water bill and local water conservation efforts.
With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fix a Leak Week happening March 17–23, 2025, now is a great time to check and fix any water leaks in your home.
According to the EPA, household leaks can waste nearly one trillion gallons of water yearly nationwide. Fix a Leak Week is an annual reminder to check household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.
One way to determine if you have a water leak is by looking at your water bill to see if it’s higher than usual. If so, you can inspect your property for pooling water or drips. The most common leaks in the home are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves, which are often easy to fix and require only a few tools.
Another way to check for leaks is through your water meter. Here is how:
- First, turn off everything that uses water indoors and outdoors, including all appliances, faucets, hoses, and sprinklers.
- Then, locate your water meter to check for signs of usage. Meter readers are usually found near your residence’s roadway, curb or sidewalk.
- Look for a small colored dial on the meter face. If this is turning, you likely have a water leak somewhere in your home or yard.
Once a leak is identified, it is important to fix it immediately. To learn more, visit the two resources below:
www.cvwd.org/Identifying-High-Consumption
www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week
