By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

The eighth annual Fix-a-Leak Week is happening through Friday, raising awareness about small leaks and other water waste that may be occurring in homes.

This initiative comes from a partnership between Illinois American Water and the US Environmental Protection Agency. A new study has found that with more than 110 million households in the US, a minor leaky faucet or running toilet leads to more than 110 trillion gallons of water lost annually.

Karen Cotton, manager of external affairs for Illinois American Water said saving water affects so many parts of life, from economic growth, to agriculture, to name a few.

“It’s really important to look for leaks you can fix in your home. It encourages wise water use and that’s really important because it’s a precious resource to us,” Cotton said.

For more information, visit amwater.com.