Kauaʻi Department of Water participating in EPA’s ‘Fix a Leak Week’

From March 19 through 25, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is celebrating its annual “Fix a Leak Week” campaign, which over the last decade has helped Americans become educated on the huge impact a small dripping in their home can have on the environment. 

The Kauaʻi County Department of Water is partnering in this national effort once again to offer free leak-detection toilet tablets throughout the month of March.

The tablets will be available in the Department of Water’s main lobby during normal business hours and at the Tanaka Hardware Store at 2974 Kalena St. in Līhuʻe, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“Conducting repairs such as a toilet flapper replacement can save big in water resources and on your water bill,” said Terrilyn Amorin with the Department of Water.  “We appreciate the continued support from Tanaka Hardware Store to help bring awareness to leak detection and encourage other businesses to contact the Department of Water for the free toilet tablets.”

The most common leaks found in the average home come from worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and leaking pipe valves.  Undetected leaks can result in an increase on monthly water bills if not checked and repaired right away.  To help prevent wasting water from household leaks, take a 10-minute test to check for toilet leaks.

• Drop a dye tablet or add a few drops of food coloring into the tank at the back of your toilet and wait 10 minutes.
• If the color shows up in the bowl, you have a leak that can probably be fixed by replacing a worn toilet flapper.

Don’t forget to flush the toilet afterwards to remove any dye in the bowl.

More 10-minute tasks:

• CHECK: Check for leaks.  Indoors, look for dripping faucets, showerheads and listen for running toilets.  Outdoors, check irrigation systems, sprinklers and spigots or hose bibbs.
• TWIST: Twist and tighten faucet, showerhead, hose and pipe connections to stop drips.  To save more water, twist a WaterSense-labeled aerator onto your bathroom faucet.
• REPLACE:  If your toilet keeps running long after a flush, you may need to replace a worn toilet flapper or adjust the rubber ball attached to a chain in your toilet tank.

For more information about “Fix a Leak Week” and other leak detection tips from the EPA WaterSense program, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.