Issaquah urges residents to check toilets for ‘Fix-a-Leak’ week

Winning plaudits from Washington, D.C., Issaquah homeowners will soon be receiving a friendly reminder and some blue dye in the mail as part of the city's campaign to conserve drinking water. Starting March 15, the “Fix-A-Leak-Week” campaign is an effort to encourage local residents and homeowners to use common-sense measures — such as taking a shorter shower or fixing a leaky toilet resevoir.

By Kendall Watson • March 16, 2010 9:55 pm
Cascade Water Alliance and the City of Issaquah are mailing water conservation advisories and toilet leak kit with dye packs to all Issaquah residents.
Cascade Water Alliance and the City of Issaquah are mailing water conservation advisories and toilet leak kit with dye packs to all Issaquah residents.

Winning plaudits from Washington, D.C., Issaquah homeowners will soon be receiving a friendly reminder and some blue dye in the mail as part of the city’s campaign to conserve drinking water.

Starting March 15, the “Fix-A-Leak-Week” campaign is an effort to encourage local residents and homeowners to use common-sense measures — such as taking a shorter shower or fixing a leaky toilet resevoir.

Over one trillion gallons of drinking water leak from the nation’s homes each year.

Sponsored through WaterSense, a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the CWA and the City of Issaquah Resource Conservation Office are mailing an informational flyer, coupons and an annual toilet leak detection kits to all single family residences around March 15, 2010.

In particular, the campaign is focused on helping identify leaky toilets because they use a significant portion of municipal drinking water. The dye strips can be placed inside the toilet tank to check for a faulty flapper valve that normally stops water from continuously filling the resevoir. If there’s a leak, the water in the toilet bowl will turn blue.

Appearing before Issaquah City Council during a March 16 meeting, CWA Water Resources Manager Mike Brent said that by simply fixing a leaky toilet, homeowners could save roughly 10,000 gallons a year.

“If just 10 percent of local homeowners fixed a leaky toilet, that could save 5 million gallons of drinking water,” he said.

The Council also recognized Wayne Drop, the water conservation mascot.

In addition, Cascade will be partnering with local hardware stores, such as Sammamish Ace Hardware or any McLendon Hardware store, will offer special discounts on replacement flappers and free classes on toilet repair from March 15 until April 15.

The outreach effort earned thanks from EPA officials trying to promote efficiency and conservation.

“EPA is proud to recognize Cascade Water Alliance as one of the leaders in the Pacific Northwest in helping to advance water conservation,” said Mike Bussell, EPA’s Office of Water and Watersheds Director in Seattle.

The CWA is a non-profit wholesale water provider made up of several Eastside cities to maintain drinking water supplies.

For more information, call the city Resource Conservation Office Manager David Fujimoto at 425-837-3417 or visit www.cascadewater.org/conservation to learn more.