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Around 400 million people worldwide are currently facing severe water shortages, according to the United Nations, and by 2050, that number will be 4 billion. The southeastern United States is currently feeling the pinch from a severe drought, approaching the point where flushing the toilet and brushing your teeth is a luxury.
In these dry times, it's more important than ever to be sure that you aren't letting water just drip down the drain, or leak out of your toilet. And it can definitely save you some pennies.According to the Earth Policy Institute, the average prices for water in America is about $2.50 per 1,000 gallons, which is about a quarter of what it costs in some European countries. It doesn't sound like much, but considering that a leaky faucet can drip 20 gallons a day down the drain, and a leaky toilet 200 gallons. Add that up, and you might as well toss two crisp $100 bills down the drain each year.
Stopping these two leaks is easy, and definitely worth a couple hundred bucks. For your faucets, just watch them, or put an empty glass where a drip would fall; if it fills up in a few hours, you've got a leak. Your toilet can be a little trickier, as it can be tough to "see" the water you're wasting; test your toilet by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank, and if you see traces of it in the bowl 5-to-10 minutes later, it's time to call your handy neighbor or your plumber.
In the mood for some DIY? Check out H2ouse.org's faucet repair and toilet repair guide, or How to Repair a Faucet at How Stuff Works. Your wallet will thank you.
[Via ::The Green Guide]
Difficulty level: Easy
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