DNR Giving Away Food Dye Tablets For ‘Fix A Leak Week’

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is giving away as many as 5,000 food coloring tablets this week, to prompt leaky toilet repairs.

“Fix a Leak Week,” the annual state effort to encourage Wisconsin residents to fix household plumbing leaks, save water, and eventually save money.

This year, the DNR has spent about $1,000 to buy 5000 tablets containing blue food dye. The tablets will be given out free at most hardware stores in Madison, and through water utilities in Waukesha, Beloit and New Berlin. DNR water supply specialist Steve Elmore says pop a tablet in a toilet tank, “and wait 15 minutes, and then if they see blue in the bowl, they may have a leak or do have a leak.”

Elmore says often a toilet tank leak is caused by a rubber flapper valve inside the tank that has gone bad. He says do-it-yourselfers can replace the valve at a small price. Having a plumber make the repair will cost more, but Elmore says toilet tank leaks can cost a lot of money if not fixed. The DNR says if you cannot get one of the tablets, test the tank with liquid food coloring.