[Durham INC] Durham Urges Residents to Fix Water-Wasting Leaks

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CITY OF DURHAM
Office of Public Affairs
101 City Hall Plaza
Durham, NC 27701

News Release


News Media Contact:
Amy Blalock
Sr. Public Affairs Specialist
(919) 560-4123 x 11253
(919) 475-7735 (cell)
Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov<mailto:Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov>
http://Facebook.com/CityofDurhamNC
http://Twitter.com/CityofDurhamNC
http://YouTube.com/CityofDurhamNC


For Immediate Release: March 2, 2016


Share! . at DurhamWater<https://twitter.com/durhamwater> asks #Durham households to fix leaky faucets, toilets & hosts clinics for Fix-a-Leak Week http://bit.ly/1oZpPRS


Durham Urges Residents to Fix Water-Wasting Leaks
Fix-a-Leak Week March 14-20; Water Efficiency Clinics Set at Local Home Improvement Stores

DURHAM, N.C. - Dripping faucets and leaking toilets are costing households more than just money down the drain. Each year, more than 1 trillion gallons of water are wasted from American households, which is equal to the annual household water use of more than 11 million homes.

To help Durham households fix this water- and money-wasting problem, the City of Durham Water Management Department<http://durhamnc.gov/944/Water-Management> is urging residents to join the "We're for Water" campaign during Fix-a-Leak Week, set for March 14-20, 2016. Sponsored by EPA's WaterSense(r) program, Fix-a-Leak Week encourages people to find and fix residential water leaks.

"Leaks can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water in an average home every year-the amount of water it takes to wash 270 loads of laundry," said James Lim, manager of the Water Efficiency and Conservation Program<http://durhamnc.gov/1006/Conservation-Water-Efficiency> with the City's Water Management Department. "As a WaterSense partner, we are encouraging our consumers to find and fix leaks to save water in our community."

To find and fix leaks to save water, energy, and lower bills, residents should:
*         Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Check for toilets with silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank, waiting 10 minutes, and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don't forget to check irrigation systems and spigots too.
*         Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections. Twist on a WaterSense-labeled faucet aerator to save water and still have adequate pressure for brushing teeth and washing hands.
*         Replace the fixture if necessary. WaterSense-labeled models are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models. These items are included in the Water Efficiency Kits available at Durham City Hall for only $3. In many cases, replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by handy do-it-yourselfers or local plumbing professionals. Irrigation professionals certified through a WaterSense-labeled program can also check water systems for leaks. Visit the EPA website<http://www.epa.gov/watersense> to find WaterSense-labeled products or an auditor.

In partnership with local home improvement stores, the department is also sponsoring a series of water efficiency and leak detection clinics during the month of March. At these clinics, customers will receive do-it-yourself advice on detecting and repairing minor leaks, tips on making water-efficient behavior an everyday practice, and information on the City's toilet rebate program<http://durhamnc.gov/1102/Toilet-Rebate-Program> for Durham homeowners. The clinics will be held between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the following locations:
*         Saturday, March 5 - Lowe's Home Improvement, 117 William Penn Plaza
*         Saturday, March 12 - The Home Depot at North Pointe, 1700 N. Pointe Dr.
*         Saturday, March 19 - Lowe's Home Improvement, 4402 Fayetteville Rd.

For more information about the clinics or additional conservation tips, City residents should call (919) 560-4381, send an email<mailto:savewater at durhamnc.gov>, or visit the department's website<http://www.durhamsaveswater.org/>.

About the Water Management Department
The Water Management Department<http://durhamnc.gov/944/Water-Management> is responsible for the operation and maintenance of Durham's water supply, water treatment and water reclamation (wastewater treatment) facilities, the collection and distribution systems (including meter reading), and customer billing services. The department has a wide variety of support divisions and programs to maintain the existing infrastructure that provide these integral services and strive to be a responsible steward of the City's physical assets. For information, visit the Web page<http://durhamnc.gov/944/Water-Management>, like on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/DurhamSavesWater>, and follow on Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/DurhamWater>.

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