Lehigh County Authority Promotes EPA’s “Fix a Leak Week” March 18 Through 24, 2019



 

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Allentown, PA (March 18, 2019) – As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ongoing “We’re for Water” campaign, launched to educate consumers about water- saving behaviors and WaterSense® labeled products, Fix a Leak Week encourages Americans to help put a stop to the nearly 1 trillion gallons of water wasted from household leaks each year.

Sponsored by EPA’s WaterSense program, Fix a Leak Week starts today, March 18th, and runs through March 24th. As a partner organization, Lehigh County Authority (LCA), is sharing tips and information to help consumers find and fix residential leaks.

“Leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water in an average home every year—the amount of water it takes to wash 270 loads of laundry,” said Susan Sampson, Customer Care and Communications Manager for LCA. “As a WaterSense partner, we are putting a spotlight on how much water can be wasted by residential water leaks and we want consumers to take some simple steps to find and fix leaks.”

To help save water for future generations, there are three basic steps people can take: check, twist, and replace:

  • Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Also check for toilets with silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank, waiting 10 minutes, and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots too.
  • Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections. To save water without a noticeable difference in flow in your bathroom, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator.
  • Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for WaterSense labeled models, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models.

In many cases, fixture replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by handy do-it-yourselfers or local plumbing professionals. Irrigation professionals certified through a WaterSense labeled program can also check your systems for leaks. Visit www.epa.gov/watersense to find WaterSense labeled products or an auditor in your area.

LCA operates about 600 miles of water main in both our Suburban and Allentown service areas and checks about 1/3 of the system for leaks each year. Last year LCA repaired 56 main breaks and more than 200 service line leaks. The cost of repairing aging infrastructure is part of the rising cost of water and sewer service in this region and across the nation. Customers can help control the cost on their water bill by finding and fixing leaks inside the home too.

For more information on Fix a Leak Week, visit the Common Service Issues/Find and Fix Leaks section of the LCA website: www.lehighcountyauthority.org.

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes, and services. Since the program’s inception in 2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save trillions of gallons of water and billions in water and energy bills. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

Information provided to TVL by:
Susan Sampson
Customer Care & Communications Manager
Lehigh County Authority
www.lehighcountyauthority.org