CLOVIS, N.M., March 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New Mexico American Water has partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency and the City of Clovis to promote the "Fix a Leak Week," which runs from March 15-21, 2010.
The campaign, part of the EPA's WaterSense program, is designed to raise awareness about small leaks and other water waste that may be occurring within our homes. Although a leaky faucet or garden hose may seem like a small problem to the individual homeowner, in aggregate these seemingly minor leaks add up to a colossal amount of wasted water when considering there are more than 110 million households in the United States.
The EPA estimates that more than a trillion gallons of water are lost annually nationwide through leaks occurring within our homes, with average residence losing 11,000 gallons a year this way. However, through the "Fix a Leak Week" campaign in partnership with local water purveyors like New Mexico American Water, they are hoping to significantly reduce that number.
"We must manage our water resources carefully to ensure the vibrancy of our community," said New Mexico American Water General Manager Kathy Wright. "However, the good news is we can significantly reduce our water waste by taking some very simple and inexpensive steps at home."
The federal effort to reduce residential water waste is particularly important in New Mexico's Clovis region, which draws most of its water from the rapidly depleting Ogallala aquifer. Overall, production levels of wells from this source are dropping about 10 percent annually. In coming years, aquifer levels are expected to continue to drop and Clovis's water supply will need to be augmented with a combination of additional wells, increased conservation and new sources of water supply.
The City of Clovis passed a resolution in support of Fix a Leak week at the March 11, 2010 meeting.
"The main source of water for Clovis is the Ogallala Aquifer and it is depleting rapidly," said City of Clovis Mayor Gayla Brumfield. "That's why it is so important for us to conserve our water. It's our greatest resource."
New Mexico American Water also offers several ways for homeowners to identify and repair dripping faucets, running toilets and leaky showerheads. In many cases, fixture replacement parts can be installed by the customer and often pay for themselves quickly. Some of those tips include:
-- Leaky toilets are most often the result of a worn toilet flapper. Replacing the rubber flapper is a quick fix that could save a home up to 200 gallons of water per day. -- Reduce faucet leaks by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and, if necessary, replace the faucet with a WaterSense-labeled model. -- For a leaky garden hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench. -- Landscape irrigation systems should be checked each spring before use to make sure they were not damaged by frost or freezing.
In addition to these steps, New Mexico American Water offers a variety of incentives to help customers reduce their water use including conservation packages with tools like toilet leak detection kits, low flow showerheads and garden hose nozzles and information about drought tolerant gardening. New Mexico American Water also offers rebates on toilets, clothes washers and landscape renovations to help you save water. To learn more about these programs and how New Mexico American Water can help you save water visit us on the web at http://www.amwater.com/nmaw/ or stop by our office at 1005 N. Morris St., Clovis, NM, 88101.
If homeowners have to replace a plumbing fixture, EPA reminds them to look for the WaterSense label. WaterSense-labeled toilets and faucets have been independently tested and certified to save water and perform as well as or better than standard models. For more information on Fix a Leak Week, visit http://www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak.
New Mexico American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water , is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and related services to approximately 60,000 people.
Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 16 million people in 35 states, as well as Ontario and Manitoba, Canada. More information can be found by visiting http://www.amwater.com/.
New Mexico American Water
CONTACT: Evan Jacobs, +1-916-568-4252, Evan.jacobs@amwater.com, for New
Mexico American Water
Web Site: http://www.amwater.com/nmaw
