Best Practices and Water Use Efficiency Resources

Whether small or large, leaks have the potential for a dramatic impact on indoor and outdoor water use. Fix a Leak Week is a national campaign presented by the Environmental Protection Agency from March 17-25 and serves to remind customers that water leaks can occur anywhere in the home, from the laundry room to the bathrooms.

Simple checks for water leaks can avoid a domino effect of costly repairs and bills. Did you know a dripping faucet can account for 3,000 gallons of water wasted annually? Proactively checking for leaks can save customers 10 percent or more on a water bill.

You can search the home for potential leaks and water waste in just a few minutes. Everything from dripping faucets, sprinklers facing the wrong direction, and worn-out garden hoses are areas where you can quickly identify water inefficiencies and help reduce water waste in our community. Explore the three steps below to get a jump start on finding leaks in your home.

Review Your Water Bill

Compare your water usage during months when water is least used. Generally, January and February are ideal for comparing water use. If you have a spike in usage reflected on a bill, then a leak may be the reason for the increase. View the How to Read My Bill page on the Rainbow Water website for details on understanding your billing statement.

Read Your Water Meter

Check your water usage by looking at your water meter over a two-hour period. Make sure no water is in use during the two-hour window, and if the meter read changes, there may be a leak. Learn how to locate your meter and identify a leak with Rainbow Water's new How to Video Series on YouTube. 
Watch videos at: rainbowmwd.ca.gov/how-to-videos

Surface Leaks

Leaks can be found all around the home, and a quick review of the interior and exterior will help identify potential water waste. Take a closer look at faucet gaskets, drips at the shower head, listen for running water at the toilet, and look for pools of water at pipe fittings under the cabinet or around the washing machine to determine if water is leaking. Check for leaks at the home's exterior where a garden hose connects to the spigot, and turn on the sprinklers to test for broken sprinklers or nozzles over spraying. Review the interior of your home and garage for visible mold or moisture on baseboards, ceiling and walls. Locate leaks with Flume, a smart flow monitor device available for $49 after instant rebate. 

Find more information about Fix a Leak Week on the EPA website.

Flow Monitor Devices to Help Identify Leaks

Flow Monitor Devices from Metropolitan Water District
Track your home water usage with flow monitor devices to receive real-time data on water usage and leak notifications. For a limited time, Metropolitan Water District has launched a flow monitor pilot program for customers to select from five different devices at numerous price points that pair with most water meter types. Some devices require professional installation by a licensed plumber and the rebate amount varies per device.  

Metropolitan Water District programs include Flo by Moen, Phyn Plus and Streamlabs Control devices that detect indoor water use through a free app with remote and automatic shut off capability, and require professional installation. Flume and Streamlabs Monitor are self-installed devices with free app subscription and do not have the remote shutoff feature.

Flume

Rainbow Water offers Flume, a self-installed device that monitor indoor and outdoor water use through a free mobile app. The device connects to a free phone app that reports real time water monitoring to track usage down to the drop.
Sign up for Flume and be among the 70% of Flume users who detected a leak within the first month. Rainbow Water customers receive an instant rebate with purchase price of $49 at flumewater.com/rainbow

Visit the Be Water Wise website to identify device compatibility, receive rebate eligibility, find a contractor and submit an online application at: https://tinyurl.com/3p5vvb7k