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Kick the Can

Watering Efficiently 7 Steps to Xeriscaping

Dressed for Success

Water Saving Tips

Leak Detection

Shower Heads

Aerators

Rain Harvesting

	Test toilets for leaks. Add a few drops of food coloring to the water in the tank, but don't flush. If coloring appears in the bowl within a few minutes, your toilet is leaking. If so, all it usually needs is a new toilet flapper, an easy and inexpensive repair job. San Antonio's hard water along with toilet cleaners, corrode soft rubber flappers, so they usually need to be replaced annually. Jiggle the handle. It might be the chain. You may need to adjust it. Adjust the "adjustment screw" on the float to stop water from going into the overflow tube. Check all waterline connections and faucets regularly. Do you know where your master shutoff valve is located? It'll save time and money if pipes burst. To check for underground leaks, turn off all indoor and outdoor faucets, then look at the meter. If the small dial is turning, you've got a leak. Call a plumber immediately if the problem persists.

Leak Detection - Toilets

Just because you don't see any water doesn't mean that there isn't a leak. A toilet can fool you. Listen to it. Do you hear running water? Jiggle the handle. Check the flapper. Just don't let it run! Your toilet can be the biggest water waster in your home, wasting up to 1,440 gallons per day, or one gallon per minute. And that's one gallon too much.

Faucets and Sinks

Drip! Drip! Drip! It'll drive you nuts. That small, little irritation keeping you up all night will never go away unless you fix it. So fix it now before it becomes a problem. Do it yourself or call a plumber. Water is being wasted and your money is going down the drain. Even a small drip can waste as much as 170 gallons of water each day, or 5,000 gallons per month.

Call 704-SAVE for help if you think there's a leak between your water main and your house. SAWS will adjust your bill if you detect an underground leak and repair it. Your homeowner's insurance may even cover pipe leaks and water damage.