Finding Water Leaks In Your Home: Rising Costs and Wasting Water

Realizing you have a water leak days or even weeks after it began may be a costly and devastating discovery. The damage even a small drip can cause to your home is unbelievably destructive. Not only can a leak cause damage, but wastes water and increases your water bill. Being vigilant in finding water leaks in your home can help prevent all these problems.

Water Heaters

A common leak culprit is your water heater. If you notice water on the cement area around your water heater or water stains on the floor, there might be a problem with your temperature and pressure relief valve. This mechanism is very important to keep functioning properly as it can cause your water heater to malfunction if not serviced. Your water heater can also leak from the top as multiple plumbing lines go in and out of the appliance. Learn about testing your water heater for leaks and what you should do when you find one in this helpful article.

Leaking Toilets

One of the most common leaks occurs when a toilet flap is not properly closed, causing the pump to endlessly cycle water. An easy way to test this is to drop food coloring into the tank (just lift the cover) and watch the water in the bowl. If the water in the bowl changes color, you have a leak.

It is also common for toilet tanks to become unbalanced from the base when people lean back against them. Check periodically that there are no drips behind your toilet. Sometimes leaks are as easy as replacing chains or tightening bolts, but if you are unsure, it is best to call a plumber. Do not leave a leak unchecked.

Recognize Water Damage

Water damage can show up in many forms. Look for ripples in the drywall, mold or rot along baseboards, peeling and cracking plaster, or discolored ceiling tiles. The best way to find a hidden leak in your home's plumbing is to be aware of and investigate anything suspicious. If you see something you are unsure about, try to assess if it is damaged and where the damage is coming from. Often, you’ll find plumbing you were unaware of leaking and slowly deteriorating your home's building materials.

If you live in a home with metered water, check your meter for leaks. This is easy to do and will allow you to check your whole home's water outflow at once. Contact your water supplier if you suspect you have a leaking water meter.


Controlling leaks is an important aspect of limiting water consumption. When you care for the water in your home, you help care for the water in our entire planet. Fix a leak right away to cut costs, prevent damage to your home, and reduce water waste. Don't forget to always USE WATER WISELY.

A Recap of the 101st Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference

What a week! Our 101st annual MN AWWA Conference took place along the water (where else?) last month, in the beautiful city of Duluth.

As usual, the conference was four days chock full of events, kicking off September 12th with a day of clay shooting, golfing, fishing and the like to raise funds for Minnesota AWWA’s Philanthropic Committee and the life-changing missions of Water for People and the Water Equation.

The support adds up. Overall this year, MN AWWA events have raised over $30,000 for the MN AWWA Philanthropic Committee. We welcomed 13 tournament fishing boats, 50 sporting clay shooters, and 105 tournament golfers.

Keynotes and Competitions

On September 13th, we heard from keynote speakers Brenda Lennox, President of the American Water Works Association, and Erik Therwanger, author of “The Leadership Connection.”

Later, we named the winner of the highly anticipated “Best in Glass” taste test award. This year, the City of Bloomington has the best tasting water in Minnesota! The city will compete at the American Water Works Association’s ACE18 National Conference next June in Las Vegas.

We also crowned champs for the Meter Madness, Hydrant Hysteria and Pipe Tapping competitions. Brent Massmann of the City of Eagan, the Duluth Great Lakes Tappers and the Bloomington Gladiators saw victory in each category, respectively.

Each winner will compete at the American Water Works Association’s ACE18 National Conference next June in Las Vegas!

Meet Eric Volk

September 14th was a day of recognition. We elected Eric Volk as the new Section-Chair Elect. Eric has worked his way up in the industry the last 15 years, first as a water/wastewater operator with the city of Blaine, then as a Lead Water Operator and now Water Superintendent for Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU).

He served for nearly 23 years in the military, including four deployments. He retired from the military in December 2014. He has earned his Public Works Certificate and is now working toward a BS in Business Administration.

As chair, Eric plans to focus on operator recruitment and training. Specifically, that means working with the Professional Operator Development Committee to make sure current and future operators can meet the challenges of enhancing regulations, as well as recruiting new operators by connecting with several programs around the state to train a new generation.

Award Winners

On Thursday, several members received well-deserved recognition for their hard work.

• Patrick Shea was awarded the George Warren Fuller Award, which recognizes “distinguished service to the water supply field in commemoration of the sound engineering skill . . . the brilliant diplomatic talent . . . and the constructive leadership which characterized the life of George Warren Fuller.”

• Steve Schneider was presented the Leonard N. Thompson Award, an award for “distinguished service to the water supply field in commemoration of Leonard N. Thompson, past General Manager of the St. Paul Water Utility for nearly 34 years.”

• The Jon Eaton Excellence in Volunteering Award went to Brian LeMon, for advancing AWWA through his volunteer time and efforts.

We closed the week on September 15th with technical sessions, a panel session, and a farewell lunch. It was a great week learning from and with the state’s top water professionals.


View more photos from the conference here! To learn more about the Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association, visit our website!

101st Annual MN AWWA Conference: Attendee Toolkit

Join Us in a SOCIAL TOAST to the

101st Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference!

STEP ONE: CONNECT WITH US!

Go to the Minnesota AWWA social media sites and follow/connect with us for conference updates.

Please note: To create real/true activity, you MUST do more than follow...please create posts, like, share, comment, tweet, retweet, etc.

• FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaAWWA
• FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE: http://bit.ly/2umoziw
• TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MinnesotaAWWA
• LINKEDIN GROUP: http://bit.ly/1TTx6jo

STEP TWO: GET ACTIVE!

Shout about the conference on your own social media platforms!

FACEBOOK

Join the Facebook Event page referenced above. Please share your updates, posts and please share your excitement! Use @ in your posts to tag the @Minnesota AWWA Facebook page.

TWITTER

Use the official 101st Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference hashtag #MNAWWA to share your updates, experiences and to stay current during the conference. Keep an eye out for special offers from local establishments throughout the conference as well.

STEP THREE: HELP US HELP YOU!

Have any materials to share about the conference? Send them to jordan@daytamarketing.com and we will be glad to advertise and share your excitement!

We've also created some material for you to share:

101st Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference Preview Blog: http://bit.ly/2vsewZY

101st Annual MN AWWA Conference: Vendor Toolkit

Join Us in a SOCIAL TOAST to the

101st Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference!

STEP ONE: CONNECT WITH US!

Go to the Minnesota AWWA social media sites and follow/connect with us for conference updates.

Please note: To create real/true activity, you MUST do more than follow...please create posts, like, share, comment, tweet, retweet, etc.

• FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaAWWA
• FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE: http://bit.ly/2umoziw
• TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MinnesotaAWWA
• LINKEDIN GROUP: http://bit.ly/1TTx6jo

STEP TWO: GET ACTIVE!

Shout out to attendees and vendors! Create activity! The more the merrier!

FACEBOOK

Join the Facebook Event page referenced above to advertise your activities, promote your booth/company/services, share updates, posts and please share your excitement! Use @ in your posts to tag the @Minnesota AWWA Facebook page.

Here are some example posts to get you started (attach graphics to posts as needed):

• @Minnesota AWWA members - stop by our booth for more information about (insert company description). 
• Attention @Minnesota AWWA members! Pick up your (insert company name) swag at booth # (insert booth number). We can't wait to see you at the 101st Annual Conference!
• @Minnesota AWWA members: Don't be uncouth, visit our booth while you're in Duluth! 

TWITTER

Use the official 101st Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference hashtag #MNAWWA to share promotions.

Here are some example tweets to get you started (attach graphics to tweets as needed):

• @MinnesotaAWWA members - make sure to visit our booth at the 101st Annual Conference! #MNAWWA
• We're an official vendor of the 101st Annual #MNAWWA Conference! Get more info here: http://bit.ly/2vsewZY
• We can't wait for the 101st Annual #MNAWWA Conference! @MinnesotaAWWA members, what are you most excited for?

STEP THREE: HELP US HELP YOU!

Have you created any photos, graphics, articles, promos or videos for this year's conference? Send them to jordan@daytamarketing.com and we will be glad to advertise and share your excitement!

We've also created some material for you to share:

101st Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference Preview Blog: http://bit.ly/2vsewZY

101st Annual MN AWWA Conference: Local Establishment Toolkit

Join Us in a SOCIAL TOAST to the

101st Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference!

STEP ONE: CONNECT WITH US!

Go to the Minnesota AWWA social media sites and follow/connect with us for conference updates.

Please note: To create real/true activity, you MUST do more than follow...please create posts, like, share, comment, tweet, retweet, etc.

• FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaAWWA
• FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE: http://bit.ly/2umoziw
• TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MinnesotaAWWA
• LINKEDIN GROUP: http://bit.ly/1TTx6jo

STEP TWO: GET ACTIVE!

Shout out to attendees and vendors! Create activity! The more the merrier!

FACEBOOK

Join the Facebook Event page referenced above to share updates, posts, special offers, promotions for dinner specials, tag vendors/conference attendees and please share your excitement! Use @ in your posts to tag the @Minnesota AWWA Facebook page.

Here are some example posts to get you started (attach graphics to posts as needed):

• Welcome @Minnesota AWWA members! Enjoy your 101st Annual Conference (insert special offers for members)
• No water, no beer. @Minnesota AWWA
• Free water for all @Minnesota AWWA attendees!

TWITTER

Use the official 101st Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference hashtag #MNAWWA to share promotions and specials.

Here are some example tweets to get you started (attach graphics to tweets as needed):

• Welcome to Duluth for your 101st Annual Conference, @MinnesotaAWWA members! #MNAWWA
• Hey @MinnesotaAWWA members, we'll give you a reason to hydrate! #NoWaterNoBeer #MNAWWA
• Attention @MinnesotaAWWA members! Stop in for (insert specials for members)

STEP THREE: HELP US HELP YOU!

Have you created any special offers, articles or graphics to welcome Minnesota AWWA members to this year's 101st Annual Conference? Send them to jordan@daytamarketing.com and we will be glad to advertise and share your excitement!

We've also created some material for you to share:

101st Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference Preview Blog: http://bit.ly/2vsewZY

A Preview of Minnesota AWWA's 101st Annual Conference

The Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association’s 101st Annual Conference is right around the corner and we couldn’t be more thrilled! Following last year’s historic celebration of a century, the annual conference continues Minnesota AWWA’s focus on educating attendees on water quality and treatment, public health, and safety. Water professionals from across Minnesota will gather in Duluth from September 12th-15th for a combination of social and educational events dedicated to preserving and protecting our state’s most vital resource...WATER!


The conference, which takes place over the course of four days, kicks off on Tuesday with a day of fun events hosted by the Minnesota AWWA Philanthropic Committee. The events — sporting clays, a golf tournament, and a fishing tournament — are not only sure to inspire some friendly competition, but also raise funds for the life-changing missions of Water for People and the Water Equation.

The conference convenes at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center overlooking the massive and breathtaking Lake Superior. What better backdrop to discuss water than a view of the largest lake in North America! If you’ve attended the conference in the past, you already know that each day is jam-packed with networking and educational events, including workshops and exhibits. Here’s what you can expect at this year’s conference:

Tuesday, September 12:

• Board meetings
• Philanthropic events

Wednesday, September 13:

• Opening sessions with a welcome by Minnesota AWWA Chair Tony Belden, and AWWA President Brenda Lennox
• Keynote speaker Erik Therwanger
• Vendor exhibitions
• Competitions (including Meter Madness, Hydrant Hysteria, Pipe Tapping, and Best In Glass Water Taste Test)
• Water for People silent auction
• The MAC Social at Grandma’s Sports Garden

Thursday, September 14:

• Concurrent technical sessions and speakers
• Annual business meetings and lunch
• Section election results
• AWWA Appreciation Reception and Dinner
• Awards presentation
• Test your knowledge at the Young Professionals Trivia Tournament at Grizzly’s Restaurant

Friday, September 15:

• Technical sessions
• Panel discussion
• Farewell lunch for attendees

Join us in this opportunity to network and learn from the state’s top water professionals at the 101st Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference. You can register here. Remember to get social with us on Facebook and Twitter, and share your conference experiences with us.

Are You Drinking Enough Water?

At least 60 percent of your body is made up of water. It’s important to drink as much as water as you can to help replenish your body every day. Sadly, water is only the second-most popular beverage in the United States–after soft drinks. That’s a scary realization, since overindulging on sugary soda drinks is an enormous health hazard.

When you’re not drinking enough water, your body will give you warning signs that something isn’t right. Here are a few other warning signs:

You Can Feel it in Your Bones

Just as a car needs oil to run properly, your body needs water to do well. If you don’t have enough water in your body, your joints will begin to break down and you could injure yourself while doing normal activities. According to an article by Lifehack.org, the cartilage that protects our joints is made up of 80% water. This means if you’re not getting enough water, you can risk injury while running or jumping or even when performing daily activities or making sudden movements.

You Don’t Recover Well From Illness

Your grandmother always told you to drink more fluids to help you recover from an illness; she was right. Your body requires a minimum amount of water each day to function at a normal level and get the toxins out of your system. These amounts vary depending on your body type, activity levels, and several other factors, but illnesses will dehydrate you faster than normal - especially if you are vomiting, have diarrhea, or have a fever. When you get sick, increase your water intake even more. Even things like soup, fruit juices, and gelatin help with your fluid intake.

You Feel Sleepy

Fatigue is one of the first signs you’ll encounter from being dehydrated. If a lack of fluids turns into full-blown dehydration, it can cause an imbalance in your sodium, potassium and electrolytes, therefore, making you sleepy and lethargic.

You Get Hungry Out Of Nowhere

When you don’t drink enough water, your body receives mixed signals on hunger. According to an article on Spright.com, “Your hypothalamus, the portion of your brain responsible for controlling feelings of hunger and thirst, responds similarly whether you’re thirsty or you haven’t had enough to eat.” Dehydration causes you to believe you need to eat when you actually need more liquid in your system.

You Don’t Age Well

Water acts as a natural (and much cheaper) facelift as it flushes out the toxins in your body. Hydrating yourself on the inside will result in a dewy and fresh-looking skin on the outside. If you’re dehydrated, things will start to look dry, cracked and unhealthy.


Water is very important to your overall health. Becoming dehydrated too often can do plenty of damage to your body, and as you’ve probably heard, if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables that are high in water content is also a good way to stay hydrated. Staying full for the entire day is just as important as staying hydrated.

For more information on hydration, visit the Minnesota Chapter of the American Water Works Association.