Everyone knows that having a leaky faucet can impact their pocketbook. However, have you considered what it does to your home and the environment? If you have a leaky faucet, it requires immediate attention. Fortunately, Yellow Submarine Plumbing & Rooter is here to take care of all your plumbing needs. Reach out to us now if you have an issue with leaky faucets.
Climate Impact and Energy
Have you ever made the connection between water and greenhouse gas emissions? Leaky water can turn into water vapor that contributes to greenhouse gases. As water leaks from your faucets, energy needs increase to process that water and distribute it. This can exacerbate climate change by leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions. So, if you leave even one faucet leaking in your home, it will ultimately be more harmful to the environment and your budget.
Wasted Water and Water Scarcity
There are an estimated 8.2 billion people worldwide, and each of them needs access to fresh water. Unfortunately, there is only about 1% of water that is safely available for human consumption. This places a huge strain on our natural resources, even without leaky faucets. People who live in dry regions can have a difficult time accessing safe drinking water.
Now, consider the following fact: One faucet that is leaking one drop per second wastes more than 11,355 liters of water annually. If we assume that the average person drinks 2.84 liters of water per day, you could give around 5,675 people a day’s worth of water with your annual water waste.
This is an astonishing statistic that becomes even worse due to a 2013 RBC Blue Water Project study. The study discovered that 33% of Canadians take up to a week or longer to repair a leaky faucet. Some Canadian cities such as Toronto report losing 100 million liters of water every single day. Even worse, most households have more than a single leaky faucet. In total, a household wastes 23,000 liters of water per year.
Annual water waste nationwide is approximately 3.5 billion cubic meters of water. This means that Canada could support around 4.79 million people’s daily drinking needs for an entire year from water waste alone. So, the next time you say to yourself that it’s just a small leak, you’ll now know the total cumulative effect.
There is more to know, too. The total ecological damage of wasted water is extremely high. For example, if an aquifer gets depleted, it will have a direct impact on aquatic ecosystems. Fish spawning will also be disrupted, which will ultimately affect bird migratory patterns. Not only does a leaky faucet waste water and energy, but it can disrupt the ecological system that affects everyday life.
Human Health Risks
Another major problem is that wasted water could also affect the lives of humans. We’re not even referring to having fresh drinking water. Having a leaky faucet can lead to mould and mildew growth. There is a whole host of mild symptoms that your family may face if mildew and mould take hold in your home. These include:
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Itchy eyes
- Fatigue
Even worse, some of your family may develop moderate or severe symptoms such as:
- Chest tightness
- Nausea
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Vomiting
- Skin rashes
- Diarrhea
- Allergic reactions
- Neurological problems
- Respiratory problems
- Kidney and liver damage
Total Damage From Leaky Faucets
As you can see, the total amount of damage caused by a single leaky faucet is quite high. You’ll experience an increase in your water and energy bills, and you’ll also contribute to higher greenhouse gas emissions. Once you’ve combined this with water scarcity and the health risk of allowing mould and mildew to grow, it’s almost unbelievable how much damage could be caused. Most people believe that a single person can’t bring about any significant changes, but letting just one leaky faucet continue to leak can do untold harm.
Save Water Waste with Yellow Submarine Plumbing & Rooter
Our team will come to your rescue if you’ve got leaky faucets or pipes. We’re a full-service, locally owned plumbing company that will arrive with a freshly stocked truck to take care of your problem. Stop water waste today by reaching out to Yellow Submarine Plumbing & Rooter.
