ITEM:		CONSENT CALENDAR
2.	CONSIDER ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2014-03 DECLARING MARCH 17-23, 2014 TO BE FIX A LEAK WEEK
Meeting Date:			February 13, 2014	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Stephanie Pintar	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: No
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense® program promotes its annual Fix a Leak Week in March as part of its efforts to encourage Americans to use water efficiently. The District supports the EPA’s program and encourages the immediate repair of every leak. Our local water waste restrictions and the high cost of water on the Monterey Peninsula make it sensible for everyone to pay attention to their water use, including keeping a watchful eye for wasteful drips and leaks and for unusually high water bills that could indicate an unobvious leak.

During the week of March 17-23, 2014, the District urges everyone to look around their homes and businesses for leaks. If a leak is found, fix it immediately. Little drips can easily add up to lots of dollars. Similarly, if the public notices water leaks in the streets or dripping fire hydrants, staff encourages them to report leaks to California American Water at 888-673-6301. The District can also assist with resolving leaks by reporting leaks to 658-5601.

DISCUSSION: Fix a Leak Week is celebrated in March of each year as a time to remind Americans to check their household fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.

The Facts on Leaks:

Leaks can account for, on average, 10,000 gallons of water wasted in the home every year, which is enough to fill a backyard swimming pool.

• The amount of water leaked from U.S. homes could exceed more than 1 trillion gallons per year. That's equivalent to the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami combined.

• Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.

• Common types of leaks found in the home include leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. All are easily correctable.

• Toilet flappers should be replaced at least every five years. Leaking flappers are a major cause of silent leaks. MPWMD offers a Rebate of up to $15 for a new flapper.

• Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.

• Keep your home leak-free by repairing dripping faucets, toilet valves, and showerheads. In most cases, fixture replacement parts don't require a major investment and can be installed by do-it-yourselfers.

• The vast majority of leaks can be eliminated after retrofitting a household with new WaterSense labeled fixtures and other high-efficiency appliances.

Leak Detection:

• A good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water usage. It's likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 8,000 gallons per month.

• Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak. You can also watch the meter to see if there is a triangle dial spinning. If the dial is moving, there is a leak.

• One way to find out if you have a toilet leak is to place a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl within 15 minutes without flushing, you have a leak. Make sure to flush immediately after this experiment to avoid staining the tank.

Faucets and Showerheads:

• A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. A home with WaterSense labeled toilets could use that water to flush for six months!

• Leaky faucets can be reduced by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replacing them if necessary. If you are replacing a faucet, look for the WaterSense label.

• A showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons per year.

• That's enough water to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher.

• Most leaky showerheads can be fixed by ensuring a tight connection using pipe tape and a wrench. If that doesn’t work, you can replace your defective showerhead with a water efficient showerhead from the Water Management District or California American Water.

Toilets:

• If your toilet is running constantly, you could be wasting 200 gallons of water or more every day.

• If your toilet is leaking, the cause is most often an old, faulty toilet flapper. Over time (sometimes only a few years), this inexpensive rubber part decays, or minerals build up on it. It's usually best to replace the whole rubber flapper—a relatively easy, inexpensive do-it-yourself project that pays for itself in no time.

• If you do need to replace the entire toilet, look for a WaterSense labeled High Efficiency Toilet (HET). If a family of four replaces its older, inefficient toilets with new WaterSense labeled ones, it could save more than 16,000 gallons per year. Retrofitting the house could save the family more than $2,000 in water and wastewater bills over the lifetime of the toilets. Plus, there is currently a rebate offered by MPWMD/Cal-Am and Seaside Municipal Water District for replacing older toilets!

Outdoors:

• Irrigation systems should be shut off during the winter months.

• An irrigation system should be checked each spring before use to make sure it was not damaged by frost or freezing. While you’re at it, install a rain sensor to override the irrigation system during those spring showers!

• An irrigation system with pressure set at 60 pounds per square inch that has a leak 1/32nd of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.

• To ensure that your in-ground irrigation system is not leaking water, consult with a WaterSense irrigation partner who has passed a certification program focused on water efficiency; look for a WaterSense irrigation partner.

• Check your garden hose for leaks at its connection to the spigot. If it leaks while you run your hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Board adopt Resolution 2014-03 declaring the week of March 17, 2014 through March 23, 2014, to be Fix a Leak Week.

Exhibits

2-A Resolution 2014-03 Declaring March 17-23, 2014, as Fix a Leak Week in the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District

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