HONOLULU — “Detect-A-Leak” Week is a catchy phrase, but the Board of Water Supply is serious about helping Oahu’s water users fix water leaks to bring down what could be hefty water bills. And Hardware Hawaii is joining the campaign running now through April 22.

What You Need To Know

  • A toilet leak can easily waste more than 200 gallons per day

  • One drip per second from a leaking faucet is equivalent to over 3,000 gallons of water wasted each year

  • From April 16 through April 22, pick up free toilet leak detection dye tablets at the BWS Public Service Building, Hardware Hawaii locations and all Satellite City Halls

  • On April 19, stop by the Detect-A-Leak Week booth, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Tamarind Park

According to the Board of Water Supply, the most common and expensive leak in the home is a toilet leak — it can easily waste more than 200 gallons per day. The cause is most often a faulty, decayed or worn-out flapper, the apparatus that allows the toilet to complete the flush cycle. Experts recommend residents regularly check the flapper and replace it at least every five years to avoid leaks.

Residents can check for outdoor leaks from garden hoses where they connect to the spigot, as well as sprinkler systems. Wet spots in the yard where grass is greener can be a sign of a broken underground pipe.

One drip per second from a leaking faucet is equivalent to over 3,000 gallons of water wasted each year, so check faucets, showerheads, water connection lines and other fixtures.

For this year’s campaign, the BWS and Hardware Hawaii are offering two components:

From April 16 through April 22, the public can pick up free toilet leak detection dye tablets at the BWS Public Service Building, Hardware Hawaii locations and all Satellite City Halls. Food coloring can also be used. Just drop a dye tablet or drops of food coloring into the toilet tank and wait 15 minutes. Don’t flush. If you see dye in the toilet bowl, there is a leak. Take a picture of the flapper to the hardware store to make sure you buy one that fits your specific toilet model.

On April 19, the public can stop by the Detect-A-Leak Week booth, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Tamarind Park (Bishop Square) in Downtown Honolulu. Learn about ways to detect and repair leaks, pick up free leak detection dye tablets, take home BWS and Hardware Hawaii swag, and win prizes that include one of four WaterSense-labeled toilets courtesy of Hardware Hawaii.

Visit the Board of Water Supply Detect-A-Leak Week website for more tips on how to check for leaks.

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.