March 16, 2026

DEP's Proactive Leak Alerts Helped Customers Save 1.7 Billion Gallons and Over $29 Million Last Year

A Single Leaking Toilet Can Waste 6,000 Gallons and Cost Up to $100 a Day

Free Water-Saving Kits Will be Provided at Customer Service Offices Citywide

In observance of National "Fix a Leak Week," the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is encouraging New Yorkers to identify and repair household water leaks. To help residents do that, the agency is proactively notifying customers whose unusually high water usage suggests they may have a leak. In 2025, DEP sent almost 48,000 of these alerts, helping prevent an estimated 1.7 billion gallons of wasted water-equal to more than $29 million in potential savings for New Yorkers. DEP is also providing tools to help customers conserve water, including leak-detection dye tablets for identifying leaky plumbing fixtures, as well as a home water-conservation kit. Customers can sign up for leak notifications through the online My DEP Account, which sends alerts when water use suddenly spikes-a common sign of a leak. To learn more about simple, low-cost ways to save water at home, check out this public service announcement: "How to Save Water in Your Home."

"Our world-class drinking water is New York City's best bargain, but even a small household leak can drain your wallet fast," said DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. "With the online My DEP Account, our customers get real-time insight into their water use, and we can alert them quickly when we detect a potential leak or unusual spike in consumption. In 2025 alone, our leak alerts helped customers avoid more than 1.7 billion gallons of wasted water. This is a powerful tool that saves New Yorkers money, conserves our water supply, and keeps customers in control of their consumption."

In 2025, DEP issued 47,787 leak alerts to customers, helping them avoid significant water loss. Because most people only discover leaks when a high bill arrives, these alerts give customers a crucial head start. That early warning helped prevent roughly 2.39 million hundred cubic feet of unnecessary water use last year, equal to more than 1.7 billion gallons. Altogether, the avoided water loss represents more than $29 million in potential savings for New Yorkers.

Nationwide, household leaks waste over 1 trillion gallons of water annually-the equivalent to normal water use of more than 11 million homes each year. A faucet that drips just once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year; a continuously running toilet can waste up to 6,000 gallons a day and cost customers upwards of $100 a day.

During "Fix a Leak Week," DEP staff will be distributing home conservation kits at customer service offices. Each kit contains water-saving tools such as low-flow shower heads, faucet aerators that add air to water, a toilet tank bank to reduce the amount of water used to flush, and leak-detector dye tablets to help customers find hard-to-see leaks. These items are easy to install and use, so New Yorkers can do it themselves and start saving water immediately. Kits will be available at the following DEP customer service offices in all five boroughs (while supplies last):

• Monday, March 16, 10am-2pm-Staten Island: 60 Bay Street, 6th Floor
• Tuesday, March 17, 10am-2pm-Queens: 96-05 Horace Harding Expressway, Lobby
• Wednesday, March 18, 10am-2pm-Brooklyn: 345 Adams Street, 9th Floor
• Thursday, March 19, 10am-2pm-Manhattan: 55 West 125th Street, 9th Floor
• Friday, March 20, 10am-2pm-Bronx: 1932 Arthur Avenue, 6th Floor

To help ensure accurate billing for our customers, DEP is also upgrading over 600,000 meter-reading devices citywide over the next three years-with 230,000 already replaced. These small gray boxes, attached to the exterior of properties, wirelessly transmit water consumption data to DEP in real time. This allows customers to view detailed usage information and detect leaks faster, reducing water loss and saving them money.

All customers are urged to sign up for My DEP Account, the centralized online portal for managing all DEP accounts. In addition to paying bills online, customers can track their water usage and sign up for leak alerts. Significant increases in daily water usage over time may indicate a leak, which is not only wasteful but can also lead to high water bills.

Here are some simple ways to check for leaks:

• Toilets: Open the tank and listen for water movement or a hissing sound. Alternatively, drop food coloring or a DEP dye tablet into the tank and wait for the color to appear in the bowl, indicating a leak. You can also check your online My DEP Account to see whether there is consistent overnight usage, which may indicate a running toilet (the kind of leak that quietly flushes and refills the bowl due to a loose flapper rather than produce a puddle on the floor).
• Faucets, sprinklers, and hose connections: Ensure they aren't dripping or running when not in use.
• Water meters: Check your water meter, which are installed inside a property. If no water is being used on the property but meter dials are moving, there may be a leak.

If you find a leak, it's important to fix it immediately. Consider consulting a licensed plumber to help identify the source of the leak and make the necessary repairs. Property owners may qualify for DEP's Leak Forgiveness Program, which provides financial relief while encouraging water conservation. To learn more, visit nyc.gov/dep/leaks or call the customer service office at 718-595-7000 during regular business hours.

Saving water has become even more important in recent years given climate change and the increasing chance of drought, like the one New York City experienced in Fall 2024. New York City is doing its part to conserve water; the City's average daily water demand has decreased approximately 35% since its peak in 1979 when daily water usage was 1.5 billion gallons. Improved management strategies-system-wide leak detection programs, meter upgrades and online tools for customers-have reduced the average daily demand to just 1.1 billion gallons, and under 1 billion gallons during winter months.

In addition to citywide efforts, DEP works with upstate wholesale water customers, including communities in Orange, Westchester, Putnam, and Ulster counties, to develop water conservation plans aimed at saving water, energy, and money.

DEP manages New York City's water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.5 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X.