Common Leaks

Toilet Leaks

A toilet leak is the most common household leak. It can waste up to 100,000 gallons of water a month. If it sounds like your toilet is still filling up when it shouldn’t be, try jiggling the handle. This may fix the leak and fill your tank.

Toilet Leaks

Check for Leaks

Other leaks may be less obvious. Add a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank and wait for 15 to 20 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak. Most of them can be fixed with replacement of a toilet flapper.

Faucet Leaks

A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. That's the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers!
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Faucet Leaks

Landscape Irrigation Leaks

The largest use of water in the Sacramento Valley is for landscape irrigation. Regularly check and tighten sprinkler heads to avoid common leaks.

Check for Leaks

Look around the hose and sprinkler connections. Look for standing water on the surface near the irrigation system’s spray heads. If you see areas of the lawn that are brighter green than others, you may have a leak. Be sure to check your meter, however, as some leaks can be hidden.

Landscape Irrigation Leaks

Other Leaks

Other common leak locations include:

  • Hot water heaters
  • Humidifiers
  • Ice makers
  • Swimming pools
  • Water softeners
Other Leaks