Pennsylvania American Water Offers Water-Saving Tips for “Fix a Leak Week”

The eighth annual “Fix a Leak Week” kicks off today and runs through March 20 to help homeowners fix drips, save water and save money. The national campaign, which is part of the EPA’s WaterSense program, is designed to raise awareness about small leaks and other water waste that might be occurring within homes. As a partner in Fix a Leak Week, Pennsylvania American Water is helping to significantly reduce the amount of water lost to household leaks.

“Ten percent of U.S. homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. Just one leaky faucet dripping at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year, which is the amount of water needed to take close to 200 showers,” said Pennsylvania American Water Vice President of Operations Jimmy Sheridan. “Being proactive in checking for leaks and fixing them in a timely manner not only makes you a more environmentally conscious consumer, but also saves money on your monthly water bill.”

For example, a seemingly minor leaky faucet or running toilet collectively results in a tremendous amount of wasted water -- more than a trillion gallons of water are lost annually - with the average residence losing 10,000 gallons a year this way.

Pennsylvania American Water customers can access water-saving tips online on the company’s website and on its Facebook page (facebook.com/pennsylvaniaamwater). Additionally, Pennsylvania American Water produced a three-minute video showing how to check for leaks throughout the household and how to make easy, inexpensive repairs. The tips can save thousands of gallons of water over the course of a year. The video is posted on the company’s YouTube channel (youtube.com/paamwater).

Sheridan said Pennsylvania American Water conducts ongoing customer education focused on wise water use to help preserve water supplies. He also recommends the following tips to help save water lost by leaks:

• Regularly check your toilet, faucets, and pipes for leaks. If you find a leak, have it fixed as soon as possible.
• Reduce faucet leaks by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replace them, or, if necessary, replace the faucet with a WaterSense-labeled model.
• Leaky toilets are most often the result of a worn toilet flapper. Replacing the rubber flapper is a quick fix that could save a home up to 200 gallons of water per day.
• For a leaky garden hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.
• Tighten connections on your showerheads if drips appear when the shower is off.
• Check your garden and lawn irrigation system for leaks, or hire a certified WaterSense expert to check it for you.
• Consider installing water and energy-efficient appliances. The EPA reports that certified Energy Star washing machines use up to 35 percent less water per load. Water-saving shower heads, toilets and faucet aerators also help cut your water usage.

Homeowners can also download a copy of the company’s Leak Detection Kit, highlighting common areas for leaks, from the company’s website at www.pennsylvaniaamwater.com under the Customer Service tab.

If homeowners have to replace plumbing fixtures, look for the WaterSense label. WaterSense-labeled toilets and faucets are independently tested and certified to save water and perform as well as or better than standard models. Visit www.epa.gov/watersense for more information.

Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.2 million people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and parts of Canada.

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