Kicking off next week, March 18-24, marks the annual Fix a Leak Week, aiming to put a stop to the staggering waste of over one trillion gallons of water across the nation each year. According to Portland's Water Bureau, the most treacherous leaks often elude the average eye and ear, lurking in the very bowls of our bathrooms.
For those unfamiliar with plumbing's quieter nemesis, anxiety need not prevail. Detecting these silent water thieves can be as simple as a brief examination of your water meter. By surveying the leak detection dial, said the bureau, it's a way to snag those leaks that slink away unnoticed. But the true battleground is your toilet, where unwary leaks mount their offense, often undetected until the water bill sounds the alarm.
Armed with nothing more than a bottle of food coloring, anyone can expose these wily water wasters. Dropping a mere ten drops into the toilet tank and waiting for twenty minutes can reveal the presence of a leak, should color seep into the bowl. "Remove your toilet tank lid, drop ten drops of food coloring into the tank, put the lid back on, and don’t flush," advises the Water Bureau.
The Water Bureau recommends repeating this inspection every six months. Checking twice a year can fend off those leaks before they swell into a formidable foe.
