Water Loss and Leaks

Are You An Above Average Utility Customer?

Being above average is something to strive for, make a goal and reach it. However, when it comes to water usage being above average means you could be wasting money, water, and possibly damage to your home. The average person uses approximately 80 gallons of water per day. That is an average of 2,400 gallons per month. If you are using this amount or less, congratulations, you are average!

The best place to start to determine your usage is your utility bill. Look at a bill from January/February as it is most likely represents your base usage (no outside usage). If your winter usage exceeds the 2,400 per person average, you may have a leak. Checking your usage monthly is the best way to see any change in water usage. Additionally if the usage indicates an estimate and you have an estimate for more than one month, please call the Utility Billing Department at 630-391-7202. Unsure where the usage is on your bill, click here to view a sample.

If you are above average you may want to  Take The 10 Minute Leak Check Challenge.

To find more tips on how to find leaks in your home, click here.

Shower Water Savings Tips

In an average home, showers are typically the third largest water use after toilets and clothes washers. The average American shower uses 17.2 gallons and lasts for 8.2 minutes at average flow rate of 2.1 gallons per minute (gpm).

Dish-Washing

Washing dishes in an automatic dish-washing machine is a relatively small use of water in the average home; accounting for 1% and 2% of the overall water consumption inside the typical household of four persons. The average American family washes approximately 110 loads of dishes each year.

Clothes Washer

Washing laundry is a significant use of water in the average home; accounting for 15% (in newer models) to 40% (on older models) of the overall water consumption inside the typical household of four persons. The average American family washes almost 400 loads of laundry each year.

Dishwasher

An older model dishwasher will use approximately 10 to 15 gallons of water per load. A family of four using a standard dishwasher will generate about 150 loads per year, consuming 1,800 gallons of water annually.

New, ENERGY STAR® dishwasher will use less than 5.5 gallons (of water per load. Replacing an old and inefficient dishwasher can reduce this water use by nearly 1.000 gallons per year and save energy through the efficient operation of the machine and by using less hot water

Other Leaks and Water Losses

Leaks from pipes, plumbing fixtures and fittings are a significant source of water. Research has shown that the typical home can lose 2,000 to 20,000 gallons of water per year due to leaks. Some leaks are obvious, such as dripping faucets and leaking water heaters. Unfortunately, many leaks go undetected for years because the source of the leak is not visible. This page will give you ideas on how to check for these types or leaks and losses.

Water Softeners

As water softeners age they may regenerate more often.  The best way to check them is to by-pass them and to record usage before and after. By-passing is different for different models. It is recommended that you refer to the manual or call a professional.