Bellevue residents are receiving a dye strip in the mail to test if their toilets are running.

Leaking toilets waste water and raise water and wastewater bills.

The dye strips, provided by the Cascade Water Alliance, are an easy and convenient way to see if toilets are leaking water. When people receive their dye kit they should:

Remove and set aside the toilet tank lid carefully.

Drop one dye strip in the toilet tank. If they have more than two toilets, they may cut a strip in half. The dye strips are non-toxic but can stain fabrics, so people should wash their hands after use.

Wait 15 minutes and do not flush.

If dye appears in the toilet bowl, the flapper valve in your toilet is leaking and should be replaced.

A toilet with a worn out and leaking flapper valve can waste over 10,000 gallons of water a year, costing customers money and wasting precious water resources. Even simple actions can add up to big water savings. Last year Cascade Members reported saving over 425,000 gallons of water a day thanks to conservation measures.

For more water savings tips or to learn how to replace a leaking flapper valve, visit Cascade Water Alliance.