ITEM:		ACTION ITEM
11.	CONSIDER ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2024-02 DECLARING THE WEEK OF MARCH 18-24, 2024, TO BE FIX A LEAK WEEK
Meeting Date:			February 12, 2024	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Stephanie Locke	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: No
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378.

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, as a WaterSense Partner, 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 18-24, 2024, the District urges everyone to take the Ten Minute WaterSense Challenge to detect and chase down leaks (Exhibit 11-A). 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 or water meters, report leaks by emailing conserve@mpwmd.net, by clicking the “Report Water Waste” button on the District’s website (www.mpwmd.net), call the Water Waste Hotline at 831-658-5601, or call California American Water at 888-673-6301.

The EPA has a number of educational and fun activities related to Fix-A-Leak Week on its website at https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week.

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Board adopt Resolution 2024-02 (Exhibit 11-B) declaring the week of March 18^th through March 24^th to be Fix a Leak Week.

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:

• The average household's leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year, or the amount of water needed to wash 270 loads of laundry.
• Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons annually nationwide. That's equal to the annual household water use of more than 11 million homes.

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

• Common types of leaks found in the home include worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. All are easily correctable. Keep your home leak-free by quickly repairing these drips. In most cases, fixture replacement parts don't require a major investment. MPWMD and Cal-Am offer free toilet flappers if needed.

• High water pressure in the home can result in leaks in the pipes, irrigation system, water fixtures and appliances and makes fixtures work inefficiently. Pressure reducing valves on the water line should be periodically repaired or replaced after checking the pressure at the house. They don’t last forever.

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

• Most common leaks can be eliminated after retrofitting a household with new WaterSense labeled fixtures and other high-efficiency appliances. Take advantage of the local rebate program.

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 leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 6,000 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.

• One way to find out if you have a toilet leak is to place a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank or use a Leak Detection Kit from MPWMD. If the color shows up in the bowl within 10 minutes without flushing, you have a leak. Make sure to flush immediately after this experiment to avoid staining the tank.

• Invest in a Smart Flowmeter that will electronically alert you to unusual water use. Rebates are available.
  
  

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. That's the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers!

• Leaky faucets can be fixed 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 the amount of water it takes 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 you are replacing a showerhead, look for one that has earned the WaterSense label.

Toilets:

• If your toilet is leaking, the cause is often an old, faulty toilet flapper. Over time, 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. MPWMD offers free replacement flappers.

• If you do need to replace the entire toilet, look for a WaterSense labeled model. If the average family replaces its older, inefficient toilets with new WaterSense labeled ones, it could save hundreds of gallons per year.

Outdoors:

• An irrigation system should be checked each spring before use to make sure it was not damaged by frost or freezing.

• Check for popped emitters, especially ones that are hiding under trees or bushes that are not very visible.

• An irrigation system 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.

Exhibits

11-A Ten Minute WaterSense Challenge (English and Spanish)

11-B Resolution 2024-02 Declaring March 18-24, 2024, as Fix a Leak Week in the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District

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