Leaks can run, but they can’t hide: Hawaiʻi County to celebrate Fix a Leak Week

Anyone can learn how to identify and fix common household water leaks to the best of their ability and conserve water at home with the help of the Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply as it celebrates Fix a Leak Week 2025 from March 17-21.

The Department Water Supply has public outreach events planned that week in Hilo and Kona with water professionals offering free conservation guidance and toilet tank leak detection tablets, which are a quick and easy way to check for leaking toilets.

Toilet leaks are often caused by a worn out toilet flapper that can easily go undetected, wasting up to 200 gallons of water every day. Replacing one of these worn out fixtures is an easy and affordable way to reduce water waste.

Department of Water Supply customers should check their water meter after turning off all faucets, spigots and household appliances that use water, such as dishwashers, to determine if other leaks are happening.

If the meter is still moving, a leak could be present. 

Customers should also examine their water bill for spikes in water usage that could indicate an undetected leak.

The public can visit a Departmet of Water Supply booth during Fix a Leak Week to speak with a water professional or test their drinking water knowledge to win prizes.

Booths will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

• MARCH 17 at the Hawai’i County Building, located at 25 Aupuni St., in Hilo.
• MARCH 19 at the West Hawai’i Civic Center Building C, located at 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, in Kailua-Kona.
• MARCH 21 at the Aupuni Center, located at 101 Pauahi St., in Hilo.

“Leaks can run, but they can’t hide,” says the Fix a Leak page on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, website.

Household water leaks can waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water a year throughout the United States, according to the federal agency.

The EPA started Fix a Leak Weak nationwide and observes it annually to hunt down the drips and raise awareness about the importance of household water conservation and how to detect leaks.

Call 808-961-8050, visit the Department of Water Supply website or the Environmental Protection Agency website for additional leak detection and water conservation tips.