According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a single slow leaky faucet that drips 30 drops a minute can waste 3 gallons per day; which is the equivalent 27 baths annually. Another fact that USGS has highlighted is that our toilets leak approximately 22 gallons of water per day.
With all the hype about conserving our resources since we only have one planet; a step in the right direction would be to fix that leak. Not only are you saving money by doing so, but you will also help the community raise awareness and you are a step closer in building your company brand towards being eco-friendly. Sounds like a win-win situation; which means you better start making it part of the regular office maintenance scheme.
First things first: Spotting that leak
There is a possibility of a leak in your home or building if:
- The water pressure in your building fails or lessened over time.
- There are some water marks on the walls, wet areas on the floor.
- Unexplainable running water or spout.
- Greens growing near pipe works or in unexpected areas
- Sound of running water even when no one else is using water.
Spotted the leak, what do I do now?
The responsibility of fixing the leak depends on its location. It is also important to remember that all water companies apply different codes of practice on leaks.
The leak is near the water meter or the water meter is broken; the water company will assume the responsibility of fixing it.
The leak is located on the public footpath, side of you meter or external stop valve; the responsibility of fixing it goes to the owner of the building. On other situations, the water company will offer to fix it if the leak happened for the first time and if the cost to repair it is not really that expensive – albeit, they do not have to. Other water companies might ask that you pay for the repair however they sometimes sweeten the deal by offering something else towards the cost.
A pipe burst or damaged water pipe is the culprit for the leak; the responsibility of fixing said leak depends on which section of the pipe burst or which was damaged.
The water company is responsible if:
- The damaged pipe is the communication pipe (part of the service pipe that leads to your property boundary that is connected to the main pipe).
- The main pipe leaked or burst.
- Areas covered outside the stop valves should be maintained by water companies, unless the leak is an emergency leak that requires immediate repairs and it is inside your property.
The responsibility is yours if:
- It is the supply pipe (portion of the service pipe from the boundary of your property) that has the problem. With that being said, some water companies will offer a subsidized repairs to customers. Contact your water company for the conditions for those repairs.
- You share your supply pipe with others then the responsibility should be shared equally.
If you need to get those leaks fixed by a professional plumber you can contact Tru-Serve Building Maintenance for various organizations and schemes that will fit just for you.
