The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated March 14-20, 2011 as “Fix a Leak” week. It’s designed to create awareness and get homeowners to look around the house for leaky toilets, sinks and pipes to make sure their plumbing is working properly. The EPA says a few simple checks and fixes could save homeowners thousands of gallons of water each year, lower water bills and improve the operation of their home plumbing systems.

Just check out these numbers offered by the EPA’s WaterSense Program:

• Leaks can account for, on average, 10,000 gallons of water wasted in the home every year, enough to fill a backyard swimming pool.
• The amount of water leaked from U.S. homes could exceed more than 1 trillion gallons of water every year. That’s equivalent to the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami – combined.
• 10% of American homes have leaks in faucets, toilets, showerheads or sprinkler systems that waste over 90 gallons of water a day.
• Just one leaky faucet can waste more than 3,100 gallons of water every year.

Fixing leaks when they happen can cost as little as a few bucks. You just have to find them. The first step is to listen, as many leaks are audible. Then inspect each and every faucet inside the home and outside for signs of dripping – spots of water in the basin or on the splash outside. For toilets, put a little food coloring in the tank and if color seeps into the bowl, the toilet is leaking.

Many of these types of leaks can be fixed easily by replacing a washer or gasket in the fixture’s spout.

Toilets that run all the time typically have a broken or worn flapper in the tank, and it’s a quick job to replace it. If the toilet still runs, you should probably call a plumber.

Some leaks are undetectable. If you really want to play it safe, you need to locate the water meter for the house, and then the main water shut-off valve in your home. It is commonly located where the main water line enters the foundation.

To begin your own inspection, turn off all faucets, outlets and water-using appliances in the home. Make a note of the gallon calculating sweep hand on the water meter (it looks very much like the second hand on a watch). Wait about 30 minutes, and check the meter again. If the hand has moved on the water meter, you have a leak somewhere.

Now, close the main water shut-off valve. If the indicator on the meter stops, you have a leak inside the home. If the indicator is still moving, the leak is underground between the water meter and the shut-off valve.

Unless you are really handy, this is when you should call a professional plumber to get the problem solved. You’ll save money in the long run by preventing further water damage and you’ll be doing your part to save water during “Fix a Leak” Week.