(Lawrenceville, Ga., March 1, 2010) - Minor water leaks waste more than a trillion gallons of water each year in U.S. homes. "In a single home, leaks can waste more than 10,000 gallons every year - enough to fill a backyard swimming pool," said Peter Frank with Gwinnett County's Department of Water Resources. "Gwinnett County wants to help homeowners save money on their utility bills and save water in our community and for future generations."

With that in mind, the Water Resources department staff is promoting "Fix a Leak Week" during March 15 - 21, 2010. The program is an annual reminder from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense^® program to check household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.

Water Resources offers ways to identify and repair dripping faucets, running toilets, and leaky showerheads. In most cases, replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by do-it-yourselfers, a plumber, or a WaterSense irrigation partner.

Water-saving tips:

• Reduce faucet leaks by checking washers and gaskets for wear or replacing if necessary with a WaterSense-labeled faucet
• The most common cause of leaky toilets, a worn flapper, is a quick fix that can save up to 200 gallons per day
• Fix a leaky garden hose by replacing the nylon or rubber washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot by using pipe tape and a wrench
• Check landscape irrigation systems each spring for frost or freeze damage

If you need to replace a plumbing fixture, look for WaterSense-labeled toilets, faucets and (soon) showerheads. These products have been independently tested and certified to save water and perform as well or better than standard models. WaterSense partners with certified landscape irrigation auditors, designers, installers and maintenance professionals. Check out www.epa.gov/watersense for local suppliers and partners.