News

As part of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Fix-A-Leak Week campaign, Olivenhain Municipal Water District and San Dieguito WaterDistrict are hosting two one-hour clinics on Monday, March 16, to help area residents save money indoors and out.

Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons of water or more each day. SDWD facilities specialist, Peter Sternberger, will provide tips for detecting such leaks inside the home, repairing drain clogs, preventing water heater failure, and resolving simple home plumbing issues before calling a plumber. Clinic participants will gain knowledge and tools to save money year after year.

Steve Sherman, landscape architect with California Landscape Technologies in Cardiff, will present tips for identifying and locating irrigation system leaks as well as how to make modest repairs. He will also discuss the effects of water pressure on irrigation systems and demonstrate the correct use of pressure gauges. High or fluctuating water pressure can cause sprinklers to mist or fog, leading to poor irrigation and water waste. Low water pressure can lead to ineffective water coverage on your property.

In anticipation of the workshop, OMWD offered the following tips to reduce water use as a result of leaks:

• Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you may have a leak. To see a video demonstration of how to read your water meter, visit www.olivenhain.com/leaks.
• To find out if you have a toilet leak, place a dye tab or drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl after 15 minutes, without flushing, you have a leak. Make sure to flush immediately after this experiment to avoid staining the tank.
• Rebates for toilets and other water-saving devices are available; visit www.olivenhain.com/rebates for more information.

Clinics will be held at the Encinitas Community Center, located at 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive in Encinitas. The indoor clinic will begin at 12:30 p.m., while the outdoor clinic will begin at 2:00 p.m. Attendance is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.olivenhain.com/events or call 760-633-2676.