Are you unwittingly wasting water? Here's how to find a hidden leak

If you’ve lived in metro Phoenix for any length of time, you’ve probably had a stealthy water leak.

You know, the ones that persist for weeks, months or even years without a noticeable spray of water, in-your-face mold or a giant water bill.

It’s hard to pinpoint how much water is lost to leaks in metro Phoenix.

But the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that nationwide, an average home’s leaks can waste 10,000 gallons of water a year.

Added up, minor leaks account for 1 trillion gallons of water lost each year nationwide — or enough to serve 11 million homes.

That’s way too much water to ignore.

What is the most common water leak?

According to the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, leaks most commonly occur outdoors, where most water is used.

That is the case for residential and non-residential properties.

And they’re more likely in the fall and spring — especially after a long, hot summer like this one. Heat and frequent use can be murder on the plastic irrigation pipes in our yards.

The biggest culprit for stealthy leaks inside is your toilet, but they also can occur at sinks, showers, water heaters and water softeners.

Our neighbors sprung one last fall that sent enough water down the drain for two average homes to use in a year — all in one month.

They never heard water running, and there was never a visible wet spot. They only learned about the leak after receiving a giant water bill — and by then, it was too late. You can’t get that water back.

How do I find a hidden leak?

There are techniques for this sort of thing, like turning off the water to your house or irrigation controller and watching your meter to see if it’s still running.

Or placing a filled bucket on a pool step and waiting overnight to see how the water level compares in the bucket to that of the pool.

But perhaps the greatest battle is remembering to look for them.

You should regularly check your yard for disturbances — rocks pushed away, or soil that’s bubbled up where it shouldn’t be visible — because these are clear signs of an underground leak.

Turn on your irrigation (or go out when it’s already running) and look for broken emitters and wet spots.

As for that toilet? Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait a few minutes. If any color escapes into the bowl, you’ve got a slow leak.

(Be sure to flush after the test so you don’t stain the tank or bowl.)

How do leaks affect my water bill?

For now, a small, recurring leak may only cost you a few extra bucks a month. But the price will go up as cities create more aggressive billing tiers to scale back water use.

That’s why it’s also important to watch your water bill.

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If use is creeping up over a month or two and you can’t explain it — you haven’t adjusted your irrigation controller, for example — you’ve probably got a leak.

It’s also important to note that most cities have laws outlawing wasted water, particularly from broken irrigation lines, with varying penalties for repeat offenders.

And many offer water efficiency checkups to help homeowners track their water use and learn how to spot leaks.

Isn't there an easier way?

I know this isn’t ideal. Everything I’ve just told you requires work.

And even then, it can take days or weeks to pinpoint a stealthy leak — while precious water continues to escape.

Technology exists to help make this easier.

Advanced water meters, smart irrigation controllers and other water-tracking devices can send alerts when water use unexpectedly spikes.

Phoenix also is testing toilet sensors in a city-owned apartment building to help identify which unit has a leak.

Many cities offer rebates to purchase water-tracking devices. They also are taking advantage of unprecedented state and federal funding to upgrade meters.

But while this technology is steadily being deployed across Arizona, it’s not yet in wide use.

Given how busy folks are and how little water we have to waste on leaks, it needs to be.

Reach Allhands at joanna.allhands@arizonarepublic.com. On X, formerly Twitter: @joannaallhands.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How do you stop water leaks? Finding them is most of the battle