Extension Communications 3614 Administrative Services Building Ames, Iowa 50011-3614 (515) 294-9915
5/18/00 Contacts: Tom Glanville, Extension Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, (515) 294-0463, tglanvil@iastate.edu Elaine Edwards, Extension Communication Systems, (515) 294-5168, eedwards@iastate.edu Leak Prevention the Easiest Way to Conserve Water AMES, Iowa -- Predictions of a summer drought this year have people thinking about water conservation already. The easiest way to conserve water can be summed up in two words: fix leaks. "Find and fix all leaks first," said Tom Glanville, Iowa State University Extension agricultural engineer. Fixing leaks is the most effective way to conserve water in a well that is going dry or when water supply use needs to be cut back. Small leaks can be easily overlooked and seem harmless, but over time they can add up to big water losses. For example, a single faucet or nipple-type livestock waterer leaking at a rate of one drop per second can waste 250 gallons of water each month. Leaks in livestock and poultry operations can put unnecessary stress on private water supplies, significantly increase monthly water bills for those who use regional rural water systems and lead to manure storage and handling problems. Although livestock facilities often do not have water meters, Glanville said that meters can help monitor livestock water consumption. Long-term tracking of water use in livestock buildings can help spot hidden leakage from pipelines or tank-type waterers. "At home, toilets are often the biggest contributors to unintended water loss," Glanville said. "A worn or poorly aligned flush valve, the rubber device that releases water from the toilet tank into the bowl, can cause leaks of 3,000 or more gallons each month. Even with such a large water loss, this type of leak can go undetected for months." To check for flush valve leaks, remove the lid from the toilet tank and add several drops of food coloring to the water. If coloring appears in the toilet bowl within one-half hour, the valve is leaking. To fix this, wipe the flush valve seat with a cloth to remove sediment that may interfere with sealing, and make sure the flush valve ball is aligned with the valve seat. If this does not help, the valve is probably worn and may need to be replaced. Replacement valves are available at most hardware and plumbing supply stores. Water meters and pressure tank gauges can help homeowners check for other hidden water leaks. In homes equipped with water meters, homeowners can check for leaks by shutting off all water taps and water-using devices, and noting the water meter reading. After one or two hours of no water use, the homeowner should check the meter again. If the reading has increased, leakage may be the cause. Homes served by a private well typically are not equipped with water meters, but the pressure tank gauge can serve a similar purpose. Homeowners should note the pressure gauge reading before and after a one- to two-hour period of no water use. If the pressure gauge reading drops during this time period, this may signal water loss due to leakage. -30- ml: isufarm
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