Water Conservation

Unknowingly, you can consume more water than you realize, particularly from your toilet. It may be leaking or running quietly without you even noticing, leading to unintended water usage.

How do I check my toilet for leaks?

If you notice the red triangle on the meter moving, water is flowing through the meter. To identify the source of the flow, turn off the valve under one of your toilets (if you have multiple toilets) and then recheck the meter. If the triangle has stopped spinning, it means the toilet you just turned off was the cause of the water flow. Repeat this process for all toilets and faucets until you find the source of the flow.

What if I cannot view my meter easily?

Add a dye tablet, food colouring, or tea bag to the back of the tank to test if your toilet is leaking. This will change the water colour in the tank. Wait 15 to 30 minutes without flushing, then check the toilet bowl. If you see the coloured water from the tank in the bowl, your toilet is leaking.

What can be wrong with my toilet?

There are a number of reasons your toilet is leaking, but some of the most common problems can be:

• The flapper valve may have deteriorated or corroded.
• The flushing arm and lift chain is not working properly.
• The water level in the tank is too high and spills into the overflow tube.
• The float rod, ballcock, and/or float ball are corroded.

Please note that the following are just suggestions and initial steps. It's important to consult a professional plumber to accurately diagnose the cause of leaks in pipes or toilets.

How can I reduce my water usage?

There are plenty of simple ways to reduce water usage, and you're in charge of most of them. For example, you can adjust how much time you spend running the tap or showering. You can also switch to more efficient appliances like low-flow toilets or showerheads.

If you want to save water outdoors, ensure your garden hoses are sealed tightly and not leaking. You can also use rain barrels to water your lawn and garden. It's easy to positively impact the environment - and your water bill - with just a few small changes!

Did you know?

Did you know that one lawn sprinkler that sprays 19 litres per minute uses 50 per cent more water in just one hour than a combination of 10 toilet flushes, two five-minute showers, two dishwasher loads, and a full load of laundry? Also, a tap that leaks one drop of water per second wastes over 25 litres of water per day. Remember that residential water meters cannot run faster or over-register more than the amount of water running through them. As meters age, they may under-register instead of over-registering. The flow of water through the piston is transmitted through a gearing system to the register, which records the flow in cubic metres.