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Fort Collins Utilities Announces Fix a Leak Week, March 17-23

Posted on: Mar-05-2014

Fort Collins Utilities is joining the U.S. EPA’s annual Fix a Leak Week campaign designed to encourage Americans to fix household leaks that contribute to more than 1 trillion gallons of wasted water each year.

A recent study of Fort Collins residential water use reported an average of 9,000 gallons of water lost per day to household leaks. Identifying and repairing these leaks not only saves water, but also saves money on utility bills.
Utilities encourages residents to periodically check their toilets, faucets, showerheads, dishwashers, clothes washers, hot water heaters, garden hoses and sprinkler systems for leaks that may otherwise go undetected.

A dripping faucet, commonly caused by worn washers and gaskets, wastes approximately 3 gallons a day and is typically easy to repair. Leaky toilets are often silent and can easily go undetected. To check for silent leaks, add a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank and wait 15 minutes before flushing. If dye appears in the bowl, there is a leak. Toilet leaks are typically the result of a worn toilet flapper, an inexpensive and relatively easy part to replace.

When you’re ready to replace household fixtures, look for WaterSense labeled models and visit https://www.fcgov.com/rebates-programs for a variety of rebates.

For more information and details on how to repair leaks, visit http://www.epa.gov/watersense , call 970-221-6700, email utilities@fcgov.com or TDD 970-224-6003.



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Did You Know?

Fats, oils and grease can clog the pipes in your home and the City’s wastewater system. Don’t put them down the drain. Toss them instead.

Using an ENERGY STAR® programmable thermostat or wifi thermostat can help you better control your home's comfort and utility costs.