City of Seymour, Texas - Press Release - August 4, 2006

Please start today being ‘Water Smart’.

Inside the Home:

When you are discussing indoor water conservation – the key is to reduce leaks.

Leaks can account for 10 percent or more of the water bill and waste both water and energy if the source is a hot water faucet. In the average household, water lost through leakage is 9.5 gallons per person per day! For example, a toilet with a silent leak of one cup of water a minute (a mere dribble) wastes about 2,700 gallons of water a month!

Toilet Leaks:

Most of the water lost to leaks is attributable to toilet leakage. Approximately 25% of all toilets leak. To determine if the toilet is leaking, remove the tank lid after the tank has stopped filling. You may be able to see a leak or hear water running. If not, you may still have a “silent leak.” To test for a silent leak, mix a few drops of food coloring into the water in the toilet tank. Do not flush the toilet. Wait for about ten minutes, and if the dye appears in the toilet bowl, the toilet has a silent leak. The most common causes of toilet leaks are: worn or improperly seated flappers, worn/broken ballcocks (try replacing washers and tightening screws first), leaking refill valves, broken or improperly adjusted lift chains and handle rods, or poorly sized replacement parts. Toilet parts can deteriorate faster when automatic toilet bowl cleaners are used. Check each item, replace worn parts with good quality parts as necessary, and retest to make sure the leak has been fixed. Universal parts often do not work, so you may need to ask for replacement parts specific to your toilet brand.

Faucet Leaks:

Faucet leaks are usually caused by worn washers or “O” rings (for a washerless faucet), which are inexpensive and can be replaced with a screwdriver and an adjustable wrench. If that doesn’t work, you may need to replace the entire stem assembly. Note the faucet brand and take the original part with you to a home improvement center.

Other Leaks:

The City of Seymour water department personnel will come upon request if you suspect an ‘invisible leak’ (such as under the house). You will be asked to turn off all faucets and water-using appliances – the reading on the water meter will be monitored for several minutes. If no water has been used and the reading has changed, a leak is occurring somewhere in the plumbing system. The services of a plumber are often required to locate and fix these invisible leaks.

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Press Release - July 11, 2006

Press Release - August 4, 2006