Water conservation tips

• Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low flow model.
• If you suspect a leak follow the next steps.
• To find out if your toilet is leaking, add a little food coloring to the tank.
  • If you see the color in the bowl 30 minutes later, your toilet is leaking.
• Replace a high-flow toilet with one using 1.6 gallons or less per flush.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Install aerators on all household faucets.
• Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher.
• If you wash dishes by hand don’t leave the water running for rinsing.
• Keep bottled drinking water in the refrigerator.

Testing for toilet water leaks
A leak can be determined by reading your water meter. The majority of our water meters contain a leak indicator, such as a small triangle that turns when water is being used. Should this dial turn or the numbers advance when no water has been used it may indicate that a leak exists in your plumbing system. To determine if a leak exists, read all the numbers on the water meter and make a note or drawing of the meter face and where all meter dials are located. Then do not use any water on the premises for at least two hours. Now re-read the meter to see if the dials or numbers have moved. If movement has occurred, you may have a leak.

To easily check if a toilet has a leak, perform a dye test. Place several drops of food coloring in the tank of the toilet but do not flush. Let stand for 30 minutes. Now check the toilet bowl. If the coloring has now appeared in the bowl, your toilet "flapper" valve needs replacement. If no color appears, you most likely do not have a leak. Also check the water level in the tank. It should be at least one inch below the top of the overflow pipe. If less than one inch adjust the float ball and recheck water level.

Other possible reasons for high water consumption:

• Automatic pool fill problem
• Backflow device malfunction
• Damaged irrigation sprinkler heads
• Hot water tank leak
• Irrigation system timer problem
• Leak in plumbing from meter to house
• Leak under concrete floor slab
• New construction on adjacent property
• Solar panel leaks
• Teenage children
• Toilet flapper valve stuck open
• Unauthorized use of outside faucet
• Vandalism
• Visiting friends or relatives
• Washing machine cycle malfunction
• Water softener backwash malfunction