Could your home be wasting water? Columbia to offer leak‑fixing demos (original) (raw)

March 13, 2026, 8:01 a.m. CT

City of Columbia Utilities is hosting two events to educate the public about water conservation. The events are part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Fix-a-Leak Week, according to a community announcement.

The first event will take place from 10 a.m. until noon March 18 at the Food Bank, 705 Business Loop 70 W. The second event is scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. March 19 at City Hall, 701 E. Broadway.

Utilities staff will demonstrate how to repair leaking toilets and provide other information to help customers identify and fix leaks.

EPA encourages fixing household leaks

The EPA’s Fix-a-Leak Week aims to address the nearly 1 trillion gallons of water wasted annually from household leaks. According to the announcement, leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water in an average home each year, which is equivalent to the amount needed to wash 300 loads of laundry.

This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.