Water Leak Information & Troubleshooting


Toilets are the number one cause of indoor water loss. A stuck/open flapper can be caused by a bound up chain connecting the toilet flush handle or the flush handle getting stuck in the down position, resulting in a potential water loss of 200 gallons per hour.

If the float is set too high, water will run down the overflow tube in the toilet tank. A tube that is 1/4 inch in diameter wastes 7,200 to 8,640 gallons per day. 

To test your toilet for loss, place 5—6 drops of food coloring in the tank and wait about 10 minutes without flushing, then check the toilet bowl. If the dye color shows in the bowl, you may have water loss.


A slow drip can result in water loss of 5—10 gallons per day per faucet. A fast drip can result in water loss of 20—30 gallons per day per faucet. A slow stream can result in water loss of 3,000 gallons per month per faucet.  

Irrigation Systems

An unattended water hose for 1 night at a flow of 10 gallons per minute results in water loss of 5,400 gallons. A missing irrigation sprinkler head (1/2 inch diameter) wastes 14,440 to 17,280 gallons per day and 433,200 to 518,400 gallons per month.

An irrigation system at 60 psi that has a leak 1/32nd of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste about 6,300
gallons of water per month.