CHARLESTON -- This is "Fix a Leak Week" and officials at West Virginia American Water and the state Public Service Commission and state Bureau for Public Health are encouraging residents to repair small water leaks in their homes.

Minor water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year in U.S. homes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program.

"Leaks can account for an average of 10,000 gallons of water wasted in the home every year," West Virginia American Water President Wayne Morgan said in a press release. "That's enough to fill a backyard swimming pool."

The EPA suggests the following steps to see if you have a leak:

Take a look at your water usage during a colder month, such as January or February. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there are serious leaks.

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.

Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 15 minutes, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.)

Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.

West Virginia American Water recommends the following tips to help save water lost by leaks:

Regularly check your toilet, faucets and pipes for leaks. American Water offers leak detection kits, which are available in the Learning Center of the company's Web site, www.amwater.com. If you find a leak, have it fixed as soon as possible.

Reduce faucet leaks by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replace them.

Leaky toilets are most often the result of a worn toilet flapper. Replacing the rubber flapper is a quick fix that could save a home up to 200 gallons of water per day.

For a leaky garden hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.

Tighten connections on your showerheads if drips appear when the shower is off.

Check your garden and lawn irrigation system for leaks, or hire a certified expert to check it for you.

Other wise water use tips include taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving, only running your dishwasher or washing machine when you have a full load and using a timer for your sprinkler system.

The EPA urges homeowners to replace plumbing fixtures with items featuring the WaterSense label. WaterSense labeled toilets and faucets have been independently tested and certified to save water and perform as well as or better than standard models.

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