Hawaii Energy Partners with County of Hawaii Department of Water Supply for "Detect-a-Leak Week"
3/12/2012 Filed under Press Releases
Conservation and efficiency program supports water conservation efforts
HONOLULU, March 12, 2012— Hawaii Energy, the conservation and efficiency program for Hawaii, Honolulu and Maui counties, has partnered with the Hawaii Department of Water Supply to help promote efficiency and conservation during “Detect-A-Leak Week.” Starting this week and running through March 17, the purpose of Detect-A-Leak Week is to encourage all Hawaii Island residents to conserve by checking for water leaks at their homes, properties and workplaces. As part of the partnership, Hawaii Energy will help the Department of Water Supply provide water leak detection tablets to Hawaii Island residents.
“Conservation and efficiency are major components of protecting our energy and water resources,” stated Derrick Sonoda, Hawaii Energy Marketing and Outreach Manager. “Many people don’t realize that water leaks are not only wasting water, they are wasting energy as well. It takes electricity to pump water into our homes, and when the water goes down the drain even more energy is used for sewage treatment.”
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average American home can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water every year from running toilets, dripping faucets and other household leaks. This can be significantly reduced in Hawaii if all residents statewide check their plumbing fixtures for leaks.
“Leak detection is an important part of protecting our most precious resources,” said Quirino Antonio, Hawaii Department of Water Supply Manager and Chief Engineer. “Join us in our efforts to find and fix leaks by doing your part at home and in your yard. With water and energy rates going up, it is ever more important to deal with the leaks while they are small.”
Something as simple as fixing a leaky toilet can save a significant amount of money over time. If your toilet is running needlessly, it could be something as simple as a flapper valve. They wear out over time, and it’s sometimes hard to tell if you are wasting water. Hawaii Department of Water Supply has free dye tablets with instructions for testing for leaking toilets by teaming with Hawaii Energy, the program that helps everyone save electricity.
It’s easy to test for leaks and takes just a few minutes. Just turn off all your water uses and check your meter. If the dial is spinning, you have leaks that can be wasteful and expensive. There are three types of leaks that should be checked; toilet, property and underground leaks.
For more information on how Detect-A-Leak Week is being observed in Hawaii County, and for more tips on how to check for leaks at home, visit www.HawaiiDWS.org.