Dripping Faucets and Leaks Can Add Up
Many people know that even a small leak from a faucet or toilet can add up to a lot of water over time. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, if one faucet leaks just 10 drips per minute, it amounts to 14,400 drips per day and more than 347 gallons of water per year. But less is known about what these leaks cost in terms of dollars and cents. Below are some estimated costs of what a U.S. commercial facility could expect to pay if it experienced leaks from malfunctioning toilets and faucets.
Many facility managers are unaware of how much these seemingly small leaks can cost. But add up all the spots in your facility where a leak can occur, and the magnitude of the problem becomes clear. While managers should conduct regular water audits, the most important step is simply looking for leaky fixtures.
Toilet Leaks |
Gallons/Month |
Cost/Month |
Cost/Year |
Tank/bowl seal leaks |
2,000 |
$13 |
$151 |
Sticks sometimes |
10,000 |
$63 |
$755 |
Runs until jiggled |
20,000 |
$126 |
$1,510 |
Runs constantly |
100,000 |
$629 |
$7,548 |
Faucet Leaks |
Gallons/Month |
Cost/Month |
Cost/Year |
Drips: Slow |
300 |
$0 |
$19 |
Drips: Fast |
600 |
$0 |
$44 |
Small stream |
2,000 |
$13 |
$151 |
Large stream |
4,000 |
$25 |
$302 |