By Johnny Jackson
jjackson@henryherald.com

Household water leaks can be costly if they persist, but repairing them can be inexpensive and cost-saving in the long run, according to authorities in the plumbing and water-supply industries.

Officials with the Henry County Water & Sewerage Authority are again partnering with Lowe’s of McDonough to educate the public about wise water usage, and conservation. The 54,000-customer water authority and the national home-improvement retailer are promoting the Second Annual Fix a Leak Week, which began Monday and lasts through Sunday.

Water customers could save more than 11,000 gallons per household each year, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Fix a Leak Week is an event affiliated with EPA’s WaterSense Program, designed to help protect the nation’s future water supply by promoting water efficiency and wise water use, according to Tonja Mincey, environmental specialist for Henry’ water authority.

All this week, Lowe’s of McDonough has displayed educational materials provided by the water authority. The materials are designed to inform customers on how they can detect household leaks, and repair them. The retailer plans to host an in-store event on Saturday, from 11 a.m., until 3 p.m., to provide product demonstrations through EPA’s WaterSense Program, as well as sales incentives on qualifying purchases that day.

“Fix a Leak Week is one of many public outreach events we are involved in to encourage wise water use,” said Mincey. “Lowe’s of McDonough has been wonderful in helping us promote this message, even opening their doors to invite customers to learn about identifying and repairing household leaks, while becoming more water-efficient.”

Lowe’s of McDonough Store Manager Matthew Banks said the messages of WaterSense and wise water use could reach as many as 10,000 customers at the store by week’s end.

Mincey is reminding water authority customers to check household fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks, saying customers stand to save as much as 10 percent on their water bills by addressing common household leaks.

“[Homeowners] may consider putting new screens in the faucet as a good way to control the water they’re using,” added McDonough-area plumber, Jack Harding. “The low-flush toilets are probably a good idea, also. They can save a lot of water with the newer toilet models. The older types are usually 3.5-to-5 gallons per flush, and the new ones are technically 1.6 gallons per flush. Over the course of a month of use, that could save lots of water and money.”

For more about Fix a Leak Week, and repairing household leaks, visit the EPA’s web site.

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On the net:

Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak

Henry County Water and Sewerage Authority: www.hcwsa.com