Leading Edge April 2021

Water leaks are here to cause expensive headaches, both for you and your facility. Leaks from pipes and ground water intrusion can cost more than you might think and become more serious issues if not addressed.

LEAKING PIPES
When looking for water-saving opportunities, leaks should be a first area to target. On average, leaks can account for more than 6 percent of a facility’s total water use. Leaks and continuously running water may not always be visible, but they can add up quickly and become a major cost in water and energy bills.  https://www.epa.gov/watersense/getting-started

One small water leak at 15 gallons per minute (gpm) leads to big waste:

• Overnight 8,100 gallons
• One day 21,600 gallons
• One week 151,200 gallons
• One Month 648,000 gallons

That’s up to $64,000 per year!

GROUND WATER INTRUSION
When heavy rain or snowmelt occurs, the soil near the surface becomes saturated and the water table rises. When the water table rises beneath a foundation, it creates hydrostatic pressure that will force water through any small cracks or imperfections in the foundation and create leaks.  https://safeguardproperties.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Groundwater-Seepage-Vendor-Guide.pdf

While there are many reasons that concrete cracks, there are also ways to repair and re-build concrete to stop the leaks. https://www.giatecscientific.com/education/cracking-in-concrete-procedures/

Unresolved leaks from pipes or cracked concrete can easily lead to water damage. On average, water damage restoration costs $2,400, but prices can reach as high as $4,250. The average price is broken down to $3.75-$7 per square foot, depending on the type of water and amount of damage done to the space.  https://www.thumbtack.com/p/water-damage-restoration-cost