If people do not heed the call to use water sparingly and employ some initiatives to safeguard this precious resource, we will run out of water. Unless there is a complete mind shift about the true value of water, a change in mindset will have to occur at all levels in civil society in order to avoid this stark future. The reality is that water will become more expensive and everyone must pay for water and sanitation. Everyone, except those without access to piped water, must use less water.
Leaks from pipes, plumbing fixtures and fittings are a significant source of water waste for many households. Some leaks are obvious, such as dripping taps. Unfortunately, many leaks go undetected for years because the source of the leak is not visible.
Water leaks will raise your water bill. Leaking water, whether a little or a lot, is still water that you are paying for. If you notice that your water bill is higher without any explanation, consider the possibility of undiscovered water leaks.
The pipe work supplying your home with water is your responsibility. We want to help keep your water supply pipe work in tip-top working order and that includes helping you to find and fix any leaks. This is all part of our promise to reduce leakages across Tshwane and save water.
Use your water meter to check for leaks
Larger leaks or a combination of small leaks can often be detected with your water meter. By using your water meter you can perform a simple leak check with the following steps:
- Make sure all water is turned off inside and outside the home. This test must be performed when no automatic water equipment is used, such as irrigation controllers.
- Record the reading of the water meter and wait 15 minutes. Be certain that no one uses any water during this time.
- Record the reading of the meter again. If the meter has recorded water use during the test, it might be due to a leak.
The meter test only verifies large leaks. You cannot verify that small leaks do not exist within the home with this test. Even when leaks are detected, this test does not indicate the location of the leaks. Further investigation is needed to detect and locate all significant leaks.
If you think that you have a leak, firstly check different toilets throughout your home to look and listen for running water. If you notice after a flush that the water is constantly draining into the tank, even at a very slow rate, over the course of a few days that can build up to litres of wasted water.
Let’s DIY
Certain plumbing problems can easily be taken care of without having to call in a professional plumbing service. One such example is replacing a washer in the case of a dripping tap. One sure sign that a washer needs replacing is if you have to tighten the tap more and more in order stop the flow of water. Of course, the washer is just one part of the tap, and if the tap needs reseating or the fixture as a whole needs replacement, it is advisable to call in a qualified plumber to do the job for you.
Tools required
- Adjustable jaw pliers
- A vice grip
- A 200 mm shifting wrench
- A fat-point screw driver
- Some knowledge and confidence in your DIY skills!
Note: Before repairing a leak, close the stopcock on the main water supply pipe to your house. This is usually close to your water meter. After the leak is fixed, open the stopcock again slowly.
DIY washer replacement
- Before you start any tap repair, turn off the water supply. You can do this by either finding the stop cock for the specific tap or switching off the main water supply.
- To test that the water is off, turn the tap on as far as it will go. Also, make sure to put the plug into the sink to avoid losing any small screws or other small parts of the tap itself, as you have to take it apart to repair it
- Take the plastic cover off the top of the tap in order to get access to the screws underneath. These covers are usually near the hot and cold indicators.
- Remove the handle by loosening and removing the screw underneath the cover
- For the next step you will need a wrench or pliers. To protect taps that have chrome edging, use a cloth between the tap and the pliers or wrench. Now you use the pliers or wrench to remove the valve under the handle by loosening the nut and removing the valve as a whole.
- Using a spanner, undo any small nuts under the washer plate, remove the old washer and replace it with a new one. Take care not to overtighten the washer plate nut.
- By reversing these steps, put your tap back together and close the tap.
- Turn on the main water supply to check your work and make sure the tap has really stopped dripping.
Final tips on DIY washer replacement
- Be gentle when taking off the tap cover.
- Washers come in many shapes and sizes. To ensure that you have the right one for your tap, you may need to take your old washer to a hardware store or specialised plumbing store and match it up to be absolutely sure that you have the right ones.
- Don’t forget to turn the spindle in an anticlockwise rotation when refitting the head section.
- If changing the washer does not solve the problem, it is best to call in a professional plumber to fix this problem for you.
If you are at all concerned about issues with your home’s plumbing, it is never too early to call professionals to perform necessary water leak repairs. They can help prevent major problems and even let you know about any other warning signs to look out for based on their findings.
Residents are urged to assist the City of Tshwane by reporting any leaks, burst pipes and so forth to the 24-hour customer care line on 012 358 9999 or sending an email to waterleaks@tshwane.gov.za. Alternatively use the I want to report portal on the city’s website: https://www.tshwane.gov.za/?page_id=65278