Forms & Resources

Water Facts:

• In 1900, Pennsylvania residential water usage was approximately 5 gallons per person per day. Today, residential use is approximately 62 gallons per person per day.
  
  
• Minor water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year in U.S. homes.
  
  
• About 1 million Pennsylvania households rely on 450,000 individual wells; 10.5 million people rely on 2,100 community drinking water systems, of which 100 are investor owned water utilities.
  
  
• True value of tap water: A 20 oz. bottle of water costs approximately $1.59 at the store, but you could fill that same bottle everyday for 5 years with tap water for that same $1.59.

Tips On Water Conservation:

• Check your toilets periodically for leaks. Ninety percent of water leaks in the home are due to the toilet system.
  
  
• Leaks in toilets can be the most difficult to detect. To test for leaks, place some food coloring in the toilet tank and leave it in the tank 10 minutes without flushing. If the food coloring appears in the toilet bowl, your toilet has a leak.
  
  
• Most leaks in the toilet occur due to a faulty tank ball (float) or overflow pipe. Other causes involve the tank flapper.
  
  
• Think you may have a leak? Turn off all water-using appliances, faucets, etc. Now go to your water meter and check the dial. If anything is moving on the dial, you have a leak. The meter dial can only move if water is going through the meter.
  
  
• Do you know where your master water supply valve is located? In an emergency, do you know how to turn the water supply off to your entire house? Every home, apartment and business has a master valve. It is normally located where the supply enters the building, near the washer hook-up or near the water heater.