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  1. 3/11/2011 PLATTE CANYON PARTICIPATES IN FIX A LEAK WEEK (MARCH 14-20)

    2. Drip…drip…drip…drip… How long have you been ignoring that pitter patter coming from the shower? How about the leaky spigot on the side of the house, or that running toilet? You might as well be pouring money down the drain! Fixing easily corrected household water leaks like these can save customers more than 10 percent on their water bills--and a precious natural resource.
     
    That’s why Platte Canyon is participating in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense® program’s “Fix a Leak Week” from March 14 to 20, 2011, a time to remind all utilities and District customers to attack leaks in their fixtures and irrigation systems.
     
    Last month the District contracted with Utility Technical Services, Inc. to conduct a waterline leak survey whose purpose was to detect and locate any leaks in the District’s water distribution system. This was accomplished by utilizing a “noise correlator”. This noise correlator determines the time difference between similar sounds (vibrations) or noise patterns reaching sensors positioned at opposite ends of the section of pipeline being tested. By measuring this time difference, based on the velocity of sound and the distance between sensors, the instrument computes the location of any continuous noise (i.e. leaks).
     
    At the conclusion of the survey of more than 50,000 feet of District waterline, only one minor leak was observed on a District fire hydrant. The estimated water saved by repairing this leak amounted between two and three gallons per minute or an annual estimated savings of 1,051,200 to 1,576,800 gallons of water per year.
    We did our part, now it’s your turn. While leaks might sometimes seem like small problems, over time they waste both valuable water resources and money. On average, a U.S. household wastes more than 11,000 gallons of water per year--enough to fill a backyard swimming pool!
     
    Common types of leaks found in the home are leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets and other leaking valves. These types of leaks are easily correctable, EPA says, and in many cases requiring only a few tools and hardware, such as a wrench and drops of food coloring, which will easily pay for themselves in water savings.
     
    Here’s how to identify and address leaks around your home:
     
    • Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
     
    • To determine if you have a leak, now is a great time to check water usage. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month in the winter, you probably have leaks!
     
    • Search for toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl without flushing first, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately to avoid staining the tank.)
     
    If you discover a significant leak that merits the replacement of an older toilet or bathroom sink faucet, consider a new WaterSense labeled product that will not only put an end to your leak, but also increase water efficiency. For instance, WaterSense labeled faucets use 30 percent less water without a noticeable difference in flow.

     
    Learn More
     
    Fix a Leak Week is March 14 to 20, 2010. Grab a wrench or contact your favorite handy person, or plumber to address leaking toilets, faucets, and irrigation systems around your home. Visit the WaterSense Web site to learn more at www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak.