Be WATER WISE - Be a Leak Seeker

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Fix that leaky hose! 

A little detective work can mean a lot of water savings. Now is a great time to check your pipes, hoses, faucets, and sprinklers for leaks.

Even small drips are big water wasters. A pinhole-sized leak can waste as much as 70 gallons of water in one day. That’s over 25,000 gallons in a year! Taking the time to check fro leaks can mean a lot of water savings and you’ll save money with Olympia’s “use less-pay less” water rate structure.    

Be WATER WISE - Check for Leaks

Put a shutoff nozzle on the end of the hose. Turn the water on with the nozzle in the “off” position.  Any leaks will be apparent.  Common places to find leaks include:

• The connection between a garden hose and spigot.
• The connection between two hoses.  
•  A hose and a sprinkler or nozzle.

If you notice a leak in any of these connections, try hand-tightening the fittings. Loose connections are a common cause of leaks.

Be WATER WISE - Investigate Those Washers

If hand tightening doesn’t solve the problem, check to see if the washer in your hose is cracked, broken, or missing. Even if the washer appears intact, it may still need to be replaced. That’s because rubber washers tend to flatten and harden with age.  Remove the washer, and check to see if it is supple. If you have any doubts, replace it. Washers are inexpensive and available at any hardware store.

Where the Rubber Meets the Fitting

If the washer is in good working order, check to see if the leak is coming from the connection between the rubber of the hose and the fitting on the end of the hose. If there is a leak between the rubber of the hose and the fitting, or in the fitting itself, you could buy a new hose. Better yet, you can repair it! Replacing the fitting is easy and costs a lot less than buying a new hose. You’ll also prevent the hose from ending up in the landfill.  

Free Hose Repair Kits Available

City of Olympia water customers can call 360.753.4444 (extension 8390) to order a free hose repair kit. The kit is available in several sizes and includes washers, replacement ends, and even a hose mender; everything you need to fix that leaky hose!

It’s Easy - Just Need a Screwdriver

Once you get the kit, fixing the leak is easy. You only need a screwdriver (or pliers) and a knife. Cut off the end of the hose, put the clamp on, insert the new fitting, and tighten the clamp. If there is a leak in the garden hose itself, you can repair that as well. Cut the hose at the leak. Simply insert the repair coupler into each end of the cut hose, tighten the clamps, and you’ve got one hose again!   Need help?  Just download our hose repair instructions (PDF). 

Contact WATER WISE Staff:

• Erin Conine, Water Conservation Program Coordinator, 360.753.8271
• Linda Ayala, Water Conservation Program Assistant, 360.753.8570
• publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us.

Contacting Public Works:

• Mailing Address: PO Box 1967, Olympia, WA 98507-1967  
• Physical Address: 924 7th Ave. SE, Suite A (directions)
• Hours: M - F, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. except for City-recognized holidays
• 360.753.8588., TTY: 360.753.8270
• publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us