Fix a Leak
Fix a Leak Week is a national campaign sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense program, which seeks to inform the public on how to identify and fix leaks. By making fixes, Americans put a stop to the more than 1 trillion gallons of water being wasted from household leaks each year. Fix a Leak Week occurs in March each year. The Charlottesville Water Conservation Program promotes the Fix a Leak Week and campaign each year with various events and outreach.
Celebrate finding and fixing water leaks this spring!
This spring the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County Service Authority (ACSA), and Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority (RWSA) are hosting FREE and VIRTUAL events to help encourage our community to save water and FIX A LEAK.
2022 Fix a Leak Events
Thank you to everyone that participated in our Fix a Leak Events and help us find & fix leaks! We appreciate those that helped us stop that running toilet in the Virtual Fix a Leak Family 5K and everyone that checked their home for water leaks.
Fix a Leak Event Prize Winners!
2022 Virtual Fix a Leak Family 5K First Place Winners
- Fastest Overall Time: Kyle Fritz, 18:01
- 1st Place Youth: Eli Phillips, 19:20
- 1st Place Adult Male: Christopher Cannon, 27:30
- 1st Place Adult Female: Megan Ridgway, 28:30
Top race finishers in the adult and youth categories will receive a $50 gift card to Ragged Mountain Running Shop.
Randomly Selected Winners from Fix a Leak Events
- Virtual Fix a Leak Family 5K Winner
- Zachary Belford
- Home Scavenger Hunt Winners
- Jennifer Lineen
- Rebecca Coleman
- Hunter Hayes
Randomly selected winners will receive a $50 gift card to Fifth Season Gardening Company.
Almost HALF of the people that submitted their Scavenger Hunt Worksheets indicated that they found and fixed a water leak- that equals saving approximately 900 gallons of water a day!
Home Scavenger Hunt
Put on your detective hat and help us find and fix leaks in your home by going on your own home scavenger hunt!
- 2022 Fix a Leak Home Scavenger Hunt Worksheet (PDF) - We are no longer accepting worksheets
- Other Helpful Resources
- Home Water Works Calculator (LINK)
- Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (water wholesaler) (LINK)
- Arizona Municipal Water Users Association Smart Home Water Guide (LINK)
- Request a Practical Plumbing Handbook (City of Charlottesville Residents Only) (LINK)
- Take the WaterSense 10-Minute Leak Challenge (PDF)
- Spanish Translated 10-Minute Leak Challenge (PDF)
Virtual Fix a Leak Family 5K
You can't have Fix a Leak Events without a running toilet! Help us stop the running toilet by participating in our Virtual Fix a Leak Family 5K!
- 2022 Virtual Fix a Leak Family 5K Race Website
- Virtual Fix a Leak Family 5K Race Packet (PDF)
- Suggested 5K Routes from Past Fix a Leak Family 5K Races (PDF)
Rivanna RiverFest on May 1st 
Come celebrate and experience your river on May 1st, 11am - 4pm at the Rivanna River Company. There will be a River Race (registration required), music, food, and community partners to help connect you to our River.
Go to the event webpage for full list of activities and details: rivannariver.org/rivanna-riverfest.
Check out our 2022 Fix a Leak Facebook Event (LINK) and Rivanna RiverFest Facebook Event (LINK)
Fix a Leak Tips
To help save water for future generations, we are asking consumers to check, twist, and replace:
- Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Also check for toilets with silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring or use a dye tab from the free conservation kits offered at the Utility Billing Office into the tank, waiting 10 minutes, and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots too.
- Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections. To save water without a noticeable difference in flow in your bathroom, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator.
- Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for WaterSense labeled models. These models are independently certified to use 20% less water and perform as well as or better than standard models. WaterSense showerheads and faucet aerators are available for free for City residents at the Utility Billing Office in City Hall.
