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Save Water During Fix a Leak Week - WaterSense Partner of the Year Delta Faucet Company to fix leaks at Boston low-income housing units

Release Date: 03/12/2012
Contact Information: Paula Ballentine, 617-918-1027

(Boston, Mass. – March 12, 2012) Today EPA New England kicked off national “Fix a Leak Week” at an event in Brighton, Mass. with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the city of Boston and WaterSense’s 2011 Manufacturer Partner of the Year, Delta Faucet Company. Delta and volunteer plumbers from Plumbers Local 12 will install over 375 water saving devices at two low-income housing properties the week of March 12th.

American households waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water each year due to leaky pipes, toilets, showerheads and other fixtures, but fixing leaks can be easy and inexpensive. During the 4th annual Fix a Leak Week, March 12-18, EPA’s WaterSense program is educating Americans about the importance of fixing leaks around the home, which will save water and nearly 10 percent on utility bills.

Delta Faucet Company, in partnership with EPA, GreenPlumbers USA, United Way, Ronald McDonald House, and various local water utilities and governments, will fix leaks in more than 1,000 low-income households and community facilities in Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco and Seattle. Delta will fix leaky toilets and faucets, and install WaterSense-labeled showerheads in each location, and estimates that these actions will save millions of gallons of water this year alone. In Boston, volunteer plumbers from Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 12 will be installing faucet aerators, toilet flappers, and showerheads donated by Delta. The installations will take place at two low-income properties: the Patricia White Apartments BHA property in Brighton and the Cottage Brook apartments HUD “Choice neighborhood” property in Dorchester.

“Leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water in an average home every year—enough water to wash nearly 280 loads of laundry, take more than 600 showers or meet the average family’s water needs for a month,” said Ira Leighton, Deputy Regional Administrator. “This effort today, with the generous supply contributions from Delta Faucet and labor from the Local 12 Plumbers and Pipe Fitters, will make a big dent in fixing leaks in Boston” said Leighton.

“This is a great example of how partnerships can work best. Two federal agencies working with the City of Boston, the private sector and a local union to deliver cost savings to our housing developments while also making a tremendous impact on the environment,” said Barbara Fields, HUD New England Regional Administrator. "This is a win-win situation. A special thanks to EPA, Delta and the volunteer plumbers for fitting homes at Cottage Brook and Patricia White with these water saving devices.”

“Delta Faucet Company places a high priority on providing products that address the performance needs for both water efficiency and user experience,” said Richard O’Reagan, president of Delta Faucet Company. “We value our relationship with the WaterSense program and maintain our commitment to educating consumers about the importance of water conservation. Through our Fix a Leak Week tour, we hope to establish a precedent that will benefit communities now and for generations to come.”

“If residents, businesses and local and state governments make these simple changes to their water use and take advantage of these infrastructure investments, together we can conserve a precious natural resource while cutting costs,” said Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. “We’re proud to be part of the WaterSense partnership, whose work makes water conservation part of our everyday lives.”

“Over the past 25 years, our customers and local water departments have made major progress at reducing water waste and increasing efficiency,” said MWRA executive director Frederick A. Laskey.“ Total demand on the MWRA water system is down by over a third, helping the environment, making the system more reliable and drought resistant, and decreasing the size and cost of new facilities. Every drop counts, so we continue to ask our customers to use water wisely.”

“The City of Boston is proud to be working with EPA, HUD, Delta Faucet on this important effort that will not only help in conservation of a precious natural resource, but also ensure significant savings on utility bills.” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino, “I also want to single out the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 12 for contributing their time for the installation of these water-saving devices that will increase the efficiency and livability of residences in Patricia White and Cottage Brook.”

"Plumbers Local 12 is very happy to bring our labor expertise and help all of the various agencies involved in this worthy endeavor in the ever important mission of water conservation,” said Kevin Cotter, Business Manager of the Plumbers Local 12.

Finding and fixing leaks around the home is as easy as check, twist and replace:

- Check for leaks. Toilet leaks can be found by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to also check irrigation systems and spigots.
- Twist and tighten pipe connections. To save even more water without a noticeable difference in flow, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator or showerhead.
- Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for the WaterSense label when replacing plumbing fixtures, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models.

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 125 billion gallons of water and more than $2 billion in water and energy bills. Consumers can find WaterSense-labeled products at thousands of retail locations across the country.

More information about finding and fixing leaks: https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak

More information on WaterSense or to find a retailer in your area that carries WaterSense-labeled products: https://www.epa.gov/watersense

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