Earth Gauge: Drop the Drips

Did you know that just five drips per minute from a leaky faucet can waste 22 gallons of water in a month, and 263 gallons in a year? One drip per second wastes 8.6 gallons in one day, and more than 3,100 gallons in a year. While it may seem simple, fixing leaky fixtures around the house can add up to big water savings, which is especially important during a drought. The average person uses about 100 gallons of water in a day, so stopping that drip could save enough water to meet the needs of one person for an entire month!

Once you've repaired a leaky faucet, save even more water by adding an aerator. You can find an aerator at your local home improvement store - they are inexpensive, easy to install, and can double the efficiency of your faucet.

Look for EPA's Water Sense label on some products, which indicates good performance in reducing water use! Learn more at www.epa.gov/WaterSense/index.htm.

(Sources: EPA Water Sense Program. "A Day in the Life of a Drop." http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/docs/drop_guide508.pdf; EPA Water Sense Program. "Simple Steps to Save Water." http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/simplesteps.htm)