New Jersey American Water Drops Helpful Tips for Customers During EPA’s Fix a Leak Week
National Fix a Leak Week is March 20-26
CAMDEN, N.J. – MARCH 20, 2023 –New Jersey American Water is dropping helpful tips to customers during the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fix a Leak Week. Fix a Leak Week will be observed this week, March 20-26. The national campaign held by the EPA raises awareness about leaks and other water issues that contribute to water waste within homes and businesses.
“For New Jersey American Water, this week is a way to encourage our customers to use water wisely. We focus on conservation and reducing water waste every day but want our customers to see conservation can not only save money, but also help preserve water, a precious resource,” said Tom Shroba, vice president of operations for New Jersey American Water.
According to the EPA, the average residence in the U.S. loses 10,000 gallons of water per year thanks to seemingly minor leaks. With more than 110 million households in the U.S., this equates to more than one trillion gallons of water lost every year due to leaks in the home. It is estimated that the average homeowner can reduce their water bills by 10 percent by addressing leaks.
“Many people may not realize that even the smallest leaks can waste thousands of gallons per year, every drop adds up,” said Shroba. “If every one of our New Jersey customers fixed a household leak, they could contribute to millions, or even billions, of gallons of water saved in a year.”
New Jersey American Water is committed to fixing leaks by replacing or upgrading infrastructure to support water quality, water pressure, system security and service reliability to customers. In 2022 New Jersey American Water invested approximately $575 million in water and wastewater infrastructure improvements which included $4.3 million in leak detection equipment to enhance our ability to respond to leaks and breaks.
New Jersey American Water also offers these helpful tips for detecting leaks:
- Check your New Jersey American Water bill monthly. If the usage increases to above average and there was no change in your home size, there most likely is a leak.
- Check your water meter at the start and end of a two-hour period during which no water is being used (i.e., when no one is home). If the meter changes, there most likely is a leak.
- Test your toilet. Leaks can occur in your toilet. Test for one by putting a drop of food coloring into the toilet tank. After 10 minutes, if any color shows up in the bowl, you may have a leak.
- Check faucet gaskets - At least once a season- and especially after extreme temperature changes – check faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for surface leaks, indicated by water on the exterior of the pipes.
- Check in-ground irrigation systems and hoses. Make sure they weren’t damaged by frost or freezing.
Customers can download a leak detection kit here. Include children in learning with interactive games on our How Water Works program site or explore New Jersey American Water’s Water Learning Center for more activities all focused on the value of water. New Jersey American Water customers can also manage their account online by visiting www.newjerseyamwater.com.
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.8 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
CAMDEN, N.J. – MARCH 20, 2023 –New Jersey American Water is dropping helpful tips to customers during the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fix a Leak Week. Fix a Leak Week will be observed this week, March 20-26. The national campaign held by the EPA raises awareness about leaks and other water issues that contribute to water waste within homes and businesses.
“For New Jersey American Water, this week is a way to encourage our customers to use water wisely. We focus on conservation and reducing water waste every day but want our customers to see conservation can not only save money, but also help preserve water, a precious resource,” said Tom Shroba, vice president of operations for New Jersey American Water.
According to the EPA, the average residence in the U.S. loses 10,000 gallons of water per year thanks to seemingly minor leaks. With more than 110 million households in the U.S., this equates to more than one trillion gallons of water lost every year due to leaks in the home. It is estimated that the average homeowner can reduce their water bills by 10 percent by addressing leaks.
“Many people may not realize that even the smallest leaks can waste thousands of gallons per year, every drop adds up,” said Shroba. “If every one of our New Jersey customers fixed a household leak, they could contribute to millions, or even billions, of gallons of water saved in a year.”
New Jersey American Water is committed to fixing leaks by replacing or upgrading infrastructure to support water quality, water pressure, system security and service reliability to customers. In 2022 New Jersey American Water invested approximately $575 million in water and wastewater infrastructure improvements which included $4.3 million in leak detection equipment to enhance our ability to respond to leaks and breaks.
New Jersey American Water also offers these helpful tips for detecting leaks:
- Check your New Jersey American Water bill monthly. If the usage increases to above average and there was no change in your home size, there most likely is a leak.
- Check your water meter at the start and end of a two-hour period during which no water is being used (i.e., when no one is home). If the meter changes, there most likely is a leak.
- Test your toilet. Leaks can occur in your toilet. Test for one by putting a drop of food coloring into the toilet tank. After 10 minutes, if any color shows up in the bowl, you may have a leak.
- Check faucet gaskets - At least once a season- and especially after extreme temperature changes – check faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for surface leaks, indicated by water on the exterior of the pipes.
- Check in-ground irrigation systems and hoses. Make sure they weren’t damaged by frost or freezing.
Customers can download a leak detection kit here. Include children in learning with interactive games on our How Water Works program site or explore New Jersey American Water’s Water Learning Center for more activities all focused on the value of water. New Jersey American Water customers can also manage their account online by visiting www.newjerseyamwater.com.
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.8 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on Twitter and Facebook.