VOORHEES, NJ — New Jersey American Water and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are reaching out to promote Fix a Leak Week, which runs from March 19 through 25. The national campaign, part of the EPA’s WaterSense program, helps to raise awareness about small leaks and other water that may be inadvertently wasted within homes. With more than 110 million households in this country, a seemingly minor leak from a faucet, shower head, toilet or other appliance can collectively result in a tremendous amount of wasted water. With the average residence losing 10,000 gallons per year, this means that more than a trillion gallons of water are lost annually nationwide through leaks occurring within homes. Through initiatives like Fix a Leak Week, the hope is that by prompting action, that amount can be significantly reduced.
“Most people may not realize that even the smallest leaks can waste thousands of gallons per year, which has an impact on water bills,” NJAW Vice President of Operations Tom Shroba said in a press release. “For the more than 658,000 customer properties we serve in New Jersey, that means collectively up to 5.8 billion gallons of treated water — enough to fill up MetLife Stadium about six times — are being lost to household leaks annually. Fortunately, most common household leaks are easily correctable, and can be incorporated as part of spring cleaning routines.”
For more information on detecting leaks, visit www.amwater.com.
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