Fixing leaks is a simple water-saving task that adds up

To make a positive impact as a residential water consumer, prioritize maintaining a water-efficient home inside and out. This approach can greatly minimize water waste, leading to reduced water and sewer bills while also fostering a more sustainable water future for your community.

Even small steps, such as fixing household leaks, can significantly affect your overall water usage. However, knowing where to start and how to determine if your home is water-efficient can be challenging. To assist you, the AMWUA cities have worked diligently to create resources for residents and businesses to enhance efficiency and tackle those leaks. 

One essential resource is the Smart Home Water Guide , which walks you through the step-by-step process of locating and repairing leaks that may be increasing your water consumption and draining your budget. The Smart Home Water Guide is also available in Spanish as Guia Para Detectar Fugas .

The Smart Home Water Guide contains the following sections:

• How to read your water meter
• Outdoor visual leak inspection
• Indoor visual leak inspection
• Isolation method to find continuous (and less obvious) leaks
• Water efficiency around the home

You will also find a helpful glossary  that contains the vocabulary most commonly used by industry professionals, ensuring homeowners know the basics when explaining issues to plumbers and landscapers.

Leaks add up and collectively can waste 1 trillion gallons nationwide. This issue is so important that the WaterSense Program dedicates a week each year to emphasize the importance of detecting and repairing these leaks. Fix A Leak Week , which took place earlier this month, aims to raise awareness and encourage homeowners to identify and fix leaks in their homes and yards. 

Even with our strong water conservation ethic here in the Valley, we can all use a friendly reminder to check for leaks and learn new ways to save water, and Fix a Leak A Week seems like a perfect time to do so. Knowing that fixing common household leaks, including leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, irrigation sprinklers, and other leaking valves, can help save ten percent or more water is especially important. In the desert, every drop counts.

Want to Dive Deeper into Your Household Water-Use?

Many things impact each household's unique water use. The AMWUA Water Use Calculator  lets you enter information about your household's water use habits. Based on the information you provided, this tool will estimate how much water you need for optimal monthly water usage. When you understand your monthly water use, a higher-than-average water bill can signal a leak or be a simple reminder to practice water conservation regularly.

For 55 years, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has worked to protect our member cities' ability to provide assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies to their communities. For more water information, visit www.amwua.org .