Fix a Leak Week

Citrus County Promotes EPA’s “Fix a Leak Week”

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Because minor water leaks account for nearly 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year in U.S. homes, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® program promotes Fix a Leak Week the third week of March each year. Fix a Leak Week is an annual reminder to Americans to check household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.

To help save water for future generations, Citrus County is asking consumers to check, twist, and replace:

  • Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots too. Also check for toilets with silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank, waiting 10 minutes, and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. If you don’t have food coloring, the utility has free dye tablets available at the Lecanto Government building and the Sugarmill Woods HOA offices.
  • Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections. To save water without a noticeable difference in flow in your bathroom, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator. Free aerators are available at the Lecanto Government building and the Sugarmill Woods HOA offices.
  • Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for WaterSense labeled models, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models. Citrus County Utilities offers its customers a $100 account credit for replacing pre-1995 toilets with Water Sense labeled models.

In many cases, fixture replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by handy do-it-yourselfers or local plumbing professionals. Visit www.epa.gov/watersense to find WaterSense labeled products and more rebates in your area.

Each year, Citrus County hosts events during Fix a Leak Week to educate and increase water-saving behaviors of its residents.

  • The Water Conservation Expo at the Sugarmill Woods Country Club. Co-hosted by the Sugarmill Woods Civic Association, the event typically falls on the fourth Friday in March. This booth-style event hosts experts on indoor and outdoor water-saving topics. Open to all residents. Lots of prizes and giveaways.
  • The Schedule a Specialist program focuses on irrigation system efficiency education. Available to Citrus County Utilities customers, a specialist conducts a zone by zone irrigation checkup of homeowner’s irrigation systems to identify leaks, test the rain sensor, provide irrigation controller education and suggest site-specific runtimes. Call to schedule, 352-527-7669.
  • Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) hourly meter reading details. Citrus County Utilities can provide its Sugarmill Woods residents with hourly water use. The hourly readings can help customers identify potential leaks and better understand irrigation system water consumption. Customers in the SMW community interested in viewing hourly usage can request a copy from the conservation office by sending an email to WaterConservation@citrusbocc.com with the address and date(s) of interest.

For more information on Fix a Leak Week, visit https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week, or call (352) 527-7684.