Pennsylvania American Water Welcomes “Fix a Leak Week” by Promoting Water-Saving Tips

22 Mar 2017, 09:02 AM CDT

Free materials and information available to help residents reduce
water commonly lost in household leaks

HERSHEY, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pennsylvania American Water announced today that it is partnering with
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the ninth year to promote
“Fix a Leak Week,” which runs March 20-26. The national campaign, part
of the EPA’s WaterSense program, raises awareness about small leaks and
other water waste that might be occurring within homes. As a Fix a Leak
Week partner, Pennsylvania American Water is offering advice to reduce
the amount of water lost to household leaks.

“Even the smallest leaks can waste thousands of gallons per year,
resulting in a large impact on your water bill,” 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.”

Pennsylvania American Water customers can access water-saving tips
online on the company’s website at www.pennsylvaniaamwater.com,
and its social media outlets (facebook.com/pennsylvaniaamwater;
instagram.com/paamwater; twitter.com/paamwater). Additionally, a new
video about “Silent Leaks” in the home highlights those small household
leaks that, after time, can add up to wasted water and wasted money. The
video is posted on YouTube at https://youtu.be/i-xHh9oSt1g

Sheridan said Pennsylvania American Water conducts ongoing customer
education about wise water use to help preserve water supplies. He
recommends the following tips to address costly household 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 under
the Water Information 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 investor-owned water utility in the state, providing
high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to
approximately 2.3 million people. With a history dating back to 1886,
American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S.
publicly-traded water and wastewater utility company. The company
employs more than 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated
and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services
to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More
information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

Contacts

Pennsylvania American Water
Western Pennsylvania:
Gary
Lobaugh
T: 724-873-3674
M: 724-944-5148
gary.lobaugh@amwater.com
or
Eastern/Central
Pennsylvania:
Terry Maenza
T: 610-670-7789 ext. 1009
M:
610-849-6484
terry.maenza@amwater.com