Commission Chair Pat O’Connell

PRC News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) during Fix-a-Leak Week, March 20-26, encourages state residents to make sure their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems are working properly.

Created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Fix-a-Leak Week campaign aims to raise awareness about water leaks and provide resources to find and address common household leaks.

“New Mexicans know that water conservation is vital toward reducing our demand for this precious resource,” Commission Chair Pat O’Connell said. “Taking part in ‘Fix-a-Leak Week’ can be a fun way to ensure we are all using water wisely. Set aside 10 minutes this week to check for leaks in and around your home and begin the work to get them fixed.”  

According to the EPA, the average household’s water leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted each year and 10% of homes have leaks that waste about 90 gallons or more each day. Common types of household water leaks include worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves.

The EPA says fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10% on their water bills.

To check for leaks in and around your home, first determine whether you’re wasting water and then identify the source of the leak.

Here are some tips for finding leaks:

• Study your water usage during the colder months. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there might be a leak.
• Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, there might be a leak.
• Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, there might be a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.)
• Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.

For more information, please visit the Fix-a-Leak campaign webpage on the EPA website at www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week

New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) regulates the utilities, telecommunications, and motor carrier industries to ensure fair and reasonable rates, and to assure reasonable and adequate services to the public as provided by law. The NMPRC also promotes public safety through the offices of Pipeline Safety Bureau and Transportation Division.