LEAK DETECTION GUIDE. Your Guide to Home Water Conservation

Transcription

1 LEAK DETECTION GUIDE Your Guide to Home Water Conservation

2 Where to Start I received a high bill, or I think I may have a leak... Did you know that the average household leak can account for more than 10,000 gallons of wasted water every year? The most common types of leaks found in the home include worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. This water is not only a waste of natural resources, but it could cause your utility bill to increase each month. Fixing these common types of leaks could help reduce your water bill, and conserve water. If you have received a high water bill, the best place to start would be at your meter. Normally your water meter is located in the front of the property near the street.

3 Getting To Know Your Digital Meter

4 Check to make sure that your meter reading is correct 1. Use the hole in the lid to carefully remove the meter lid and set it to the side. Once the meter box is open you will see the water meter. Lift the protective cap on the water meter to read the meter. (In order to activate your meter, shine a bright flashlight at it for 5-10 seconds.) 2. The first four numbers, all the way to the left, are your usage. Please keep in mind that you may check the water meter and record your usage on a different date than St. Cloud Utilities uses for its billing purposes. This could result in a slight difference in the amount you find on your water meter in comparison to the water usage used to determine your bill. This number should be equal to or higher than your current billed reading. 3. If the reading on the meter is lower than the reading indicated on your bill, the meter may have been misread. Please call our Customer Service Center at (407) for a re-read of your meter. 4. If the meter reading is substantially higher than the reading on your utility bill, there may be a water leak in your home.

5 Check to see if there may be a leak Not all leaks are big and noticeable Your meter display will alternate between the unit read and the rate of water currently flowing in the house. If there is no water flow, the display will read Your meter also has a leak indicator that will display potential leaks in your house. You can also determine if you have a leak by turning off all the water faucets and spigots in the house. The rate of flow should read If there is water flow, you likely have a leak.

6 Check Your Toilet for Leaks Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring or a dye tablet in the fully filled toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after10 minutes, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.) If your toilet is leaking, the cause is often an old, faulty toilet flapper. This is normally an inexpensive item that you can replace yourself. If you do need to replace the entire toilet, look for a WaterSense labled model. This will help you conserve water, and reduce your monthly water bill. A leaky toilet can waste over 200 gallons of water per day!

7 Check the faucet for leaks A leaky faucet can waste over 20 gallons of water per day. Worn washers or O rings are usually the cause of a leaking faucet. The chart below displays how much water a slow drip could waste, based upon the amount of pressure in the pipes.

8 Did You Know? Water is a finite resource even though about 70 percent of the earth's surface is covered by water, less than 1 percent is available for human use. The typical family uses about 60% of their water in the bathroom. This is partly because the flow rate in the bathroom is used at a faster rate than any other part of the home. Each American uses an average of 100 gallons of water a day at home. We can all use 30 percent less water by installing water efficient fixtures and appliances.

9 Ways to save water! Install a low-flow toilet, look for the WaterSense logo. (Check if there are any current rebates.) Add faucet aerators to existing faucets, (helps limit flow.) Install water saving shower heads. Look for the WaterSense logo. Take short showers vs.tub baths (15-17gal vs gal) showers use ~2.1 gal per min keep shower time to around 5 minutes for max savings. Turn water off when you aren t using it, even if you plan to use it in a minute EX: Brushing your teeth Doing the dishes Washing your face Wash full loads in the washing machine and in the dishwasher. Use the dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand. If you feel children or others are needlessly using water in the outside faucets, the spigot handles can be removed. Use hoses with nozzles only (not free flowing.) Check for Leaks

10 Outdoors A hidden hose in the grass, accidentally left on can waste thousands of gallons of water if it is left on for long periods of time. Most lawns need 1/2 of water which should be reached after about 30 minutes of watering per zone. The best time to water is actually between 12:00 am and 6:00 am to save water from evaporation and also benefit from dew accumulated on the tops of the grass. Make sure sprinkler heads are positioned to water the grass only, avoid watering driveways and streets. Install a rain sensor so that your irrigation system shuts off when it rains. Regularly check for broken irrigation equipment. Know your Watering Schedule Potable Water Even Address (ending in 0,2,4,6,8) Thursday & Sunday Before 10 AM or after 4PM. Odd Addresses (ending in 1,3,5,7,9) Wednesday & Saturday before 10AM or after 4PM. BLOCK DAY & TIME 0 Tue, Fri 2:30AM 5:00AM Reclaim Water 1 Thur, Sun 2:30AM 5:00AM Use the schedule according the block number that corresponds to the last digit of your address. 2 Wed, Sat 5:00AM 7:30AM 3 Tue, Fri 7:30AM 10:00AM 4 Wed, Sat 2:30AM 5:00AM 5 Tue, Fri 5:00AM 7:30AM 6 Thur, Sun 5:00AM 7:30AM 7 Wed, Sat 7:00AM 10:00AM 8 Thur, Sun 7:30AM 10:00AM 9 Thur, Sun 12:00AM 2:30AM

11 9 Principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping 1. Right Plant, Right Place Select plants that match a sites soil, light, and water conditions. Choose Florida Natives! Once established they will require very minimal maintenance. 2. Water Efficiently Group plants with similar water needs together create zones Irrigate approximately 3/4 of water per application Established landscaped plants rarely need irrigation Only water when required Use a rain sensor or soil moisture sensor 3. Fertilize Appropriately UF/IFAS recommended rates and application timings Never fertilize within 10 ft of a water body or immediately before a rainstorm. 4. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch Mulch helps retain soil moisture, protects plants, and inhibits weed growth Be sure to choose sustainably harvested mulch! Ex: melaleuca, pine straw, or eucalyptus. 5. Attract Wildlife Select plants with seeds, fruit, foliage, flowers, or berries that animals can eat. Animals and insects will eat pests and help pollinate your flowers! (reduces insecticide use) Supply water, such as a rain garden or bird bath. 6. Manage Yard Pests Responsibly Select pest-resistant plants and water and fertilizer correctly Mow grass at the proper height. Grass that is too short will be stressed and more likely to be prone to diseases and pests. Spot-treat rather than blanket spraying, reduces runoff and increases effectiveness. 7. Recycle Yard Waste Compost! Decomposed organic matter releases nutrients back to the soil in a form that plants can easily use. Looser soil with greater water-holding capacity and increased fertility not to mention less garbage going to the landfill! 8. Reduce Stormwater Runoff Fertilizers and pesticides can leach through the soil or run off into storm drains and decrease overall water quality. Create shallow rain gardens, or shaping the earth to help slow runoff and allow the water time to soak into the ground. 9. Protect the Waterfront Maintain a 10-foot maintenance-free zone around water bodies (lakes, ponds, streams, etc.). Don t let any grass clippings or pet wastes get into the water, as these carry nutrients and harmful bacteria. FLORIDA FRIENDLY REFERENCES: WINTER SPRING SUMMER FALL every 1-2 weeks 1x per week 1-2x per week 1x per week adjust freq. based on rainfall

12 Customer Service Center Monday Friday 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Ph: Fax: