Finding and fixing drips and leaks will stretch water supplies and save money

Leaks, even small drips, can add up to lots of wasted water and unnecessarily cost shareholders more on their bills, which is why Bellflower-Somerset Mutual Water Company (BSMWC) is embracing the ideas of Fix a Leak Week, March 14-20.

“This is the week to pick up a wrench, go to the home repair store, or call a plumber to get those leaks repaired,” Board President Rick Cook said. “With California continuing to be challenged by historic drought, we all need to look for water savings wherever possible.”

Toilets, faucets, showerheads, and irrigation systems are common culprits of household leaks. Leaks in the home can account for about 10,000 gallons of water waste per year, the equivalent of nearly 300 loads of laundry. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), about 1 trillion gallons of water is wasted annually across the nation because of small leaks.

“Those drips do add up. We want our shareholders to be water-efficient and save money, too,” General Manager Steve Lenton said, adding that BSMWC has a robust maintenance schedule to fix any leaks in the delivery system and maintain efficient operations.

BSMWC shareholders are eligible for rebates to replace various water fixtures in and around their homes.  BSMWC is a member agency of Central Basin Municipal Water District, a wholesaler that offers rebates through its connection with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). Numerous water-saving ideas and financial incentives can also be found on MWD’s website, bewaterwise.com.

The EPA has sponsored and organized Fix a Leak Week since 2009. Fix a Leak Week events are happening around the nation to teach people how to find and repair household drips. For more information, visit the EPA’s WaterSense webpage.