In 2016, Denver Water conservation technicians like John Gebhart (pictured) performed more than 1,000 high bill audits for customers, finding leaks about 40 percent of the time. Typically, large spikes in water use result from leaks. Fix a Leak Week is March 20-26, which is also a great time to check your water consumption and perform a self-audit to find ways to use water more efficiently.

For more about Fix a Leak Week, including a look into the biggest household leak offenders, check out "What to do when your toilet takes a leak."