• Dripping Faucets and Leaks Can Add Up

    How much do dripping faucets and leaks really cost you?
    June 17, 2010
    17 min read

    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

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