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You pay for any water from a public water
supply. You pay either a monthly or yearly bill based on your consumption
as registered by a water meter or taxes fixed by local government to pay
for community usage. The renter pays for it as a portion of his rent.
In any case, then, saving water supplies is a part of good economy.
. There are several causes of waste in the
piping system. Some general rules which will reduce loss and the resultant
bills follow:
- When closing your home for an extended
period of time, turn the water supply off, preferably at the valve cock
outside the house.
- Inspect water meters frequently to see
whether they are functioning properly. Faulty meters are often the cause
of overly large bills. Report damaged meters to local water register
bureaus immediately.
- Look for bidden leaks by occasionally
closing all outlets and then observing the meter to see whether it continues
to register.
- Check all water-closet supply lines for
interior leaks, a common source of water wastage that is not always
visible. You can frequently detect leaks by listening carefully both
to the tank and to the pipe leading from the tank.
- Make sure that installations of hot and
cold water piping are kept at least a foot apart. Otherwise, heat will
be transferred to the cold water piping, making excess runoffs at the
cold water faucet necessary whenever you want cool water.
- Beware of filling a water tank used for
storage to overflowing. An automatic shut-off, such as a ball cock,
will prevent overflow.
- Do not run faucets during winter weather
to prevent freezing. This practice is usually against local regulations.
- Check the water supply system periodically.
Look for damp areas on walls, floors, and ceilings as indications of
hidden leaks; check runs of piping for sagging and proper support; keep
the area around the water meter clear and the meter itself free of dirt
and dust.
Even the smallest leaks can be costly over
a long period of time. For !example, a hole only 1/32" in diameter
loses more water in a day than the average person uses. It loses up to
170 gallons in 24 hours. A leak twice that size loses 380 gallons daily
and one three times that size loses about 1,530 gallons each day. The
1/32" hole wastes 76,000 gallons a year. If such a leak is in the
hot water line, you will have wasted a great deal of fuel in addition
to the water that is lost.
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