PUC Highlights Affordability During 2026 ‘Fix a Leak Week’

PUC Highlights Affordability During 2026 'Fix a Leak Week'

Published on 3/16/2026

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

Small Home Fixes, Big Savings on Bills and Water

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today emphasized the importance of water conservation, efficiency, and safety as part of National "Fix a Leak Week," running from March 16-22, 2026. This annual campaign encourages households nationwide to check for leaks, saving not only water, but also preventing money from going down the drain.

The annual Fix a Leak campaign encourages households across the country to find and repair leaks, helping to protect the environment and lower utility bills.

"Addressing household leaks is an easy, budget-friendly, and sustainable practice that can slash water bills by roughly 10% while preserving a vital natural resource," said Ralph Yanora, PUC Commissioner and Co-Vice Chairman of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Committee on Water. "Common practices like replacing worn toilet flappers or tightening faucet aerators are quick, DIY-friendly, and highly effective for saving money and water."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 10% of homes have leaks wasting 90 gallons or more per day-adding up to nearly 1 trillion gallons of wasted water nationwide each year.

Checking for Leaks

As part of Fix a Leak Week, Pennsylvanians are encouraged to identify and fix leaks around their homes. The PUC and EPA offer the following tips:

• Check your water usage during a colder month like January or February. If a household of four exceeds 12,000 gallons in a month, you likely have a serious leak.
• Monitor your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes, you probably have a leak.
• Test for toilet leaks by adding a drop of food coloring to the tank. If color appears in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.)
• Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.

For more tips on detecting leaks and conserving water, visit the EPA's WaterSense website.

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC's website at puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the "Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission" or "PA PUC" on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Contact:

• Denise McCracken
  Senior Communications Specialist
  717-787-5722
  [email protected]