EPA WaterSense Fix a Leak Week Encourages Water Conservation

announcements

Published March 16th, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

The Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is promoting the EPA's WaterSense Fix a Leak Week, March 16-22, 2026. The announcement encourages residents to check for and fix household water leaks to conserve water and reduce utility costs.

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What changed

The Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has issued a notice encouraging residents to participate in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WaterSense Fix a Leak Week, observed from March 16-22, 2026. The announcement highlights the significant water waste from household leaks, citing EPA data that the average home can waste over 9,000 gallons annually, potentially increasing water bills by 10 percent. It emphasizes that common leaks are often easy to fix and that repairing them helps conserve precious freshwater resources and reduces energy consumption for water treatment and delivery.

While this is an awareness campaign and not a regulatory mandate, regulated water utilities and consumers are encouraged to recognize the importance of water conservation. The PUC directs residents to the EPA WaterSense website for resources on detecting and repairing leaks. The PUC clarifies its regulatory scope, noting it oversees private water utilities but not municipal systems.

What to do next

Review EPA WaterSense Fix a Leak Week resources for potential consumer outreach.
Consider internal communication to staff regarding water conservation practices.

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Home » Announcements » EPA WaterSense Fix a Leak Week: March 16-22, 2026

EPA WaterSense Fix a Leak Week: March 16-22, 2026

Posted on Mar 16, 2026 in Announcements EPA WaterSense infographic highlighting key facts about household water leaks and the potential water savings from repairing leaks and installing water-efficient fixtures. (image/png, 95 KB)

In recognition of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense Fix a Leak Week, taking place March 16–22, 2026, the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission (PUC) encourages residents to check their homes for leaks and take simple steps to conserve water.

Household leaks can waste a significant amount of water each year. According to the EPA, the average home can waste more than 9,000 gallons of water annually due to leaks. That is roughly the amount of water needed to wash more than 250 loads of laundry. These leaks can increase a household’s water bill by about 10 percent.

Many common leaks, such as worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and leaking showerheads, are often easy to detect and fix. Identifying and repairing these leaks can help conserve water and reduce utility costs.

Water has long been recognized as sacred and essential to sustenance in the islands, reflected in the traditional Hawaiian saying “ola i ka wai,” which translates to “water is life.” Reducing water waste helps preserve limited freshwater resources and reduces the energy required to treat, pump, and deliver water to homes and businesses.

You can help conserve water, reduce energy use, and protect Hawaiʻi’s valuable resources by finding and fixing leaks as soon as they appear.

To learn more about how to detect and repair leaks in your home, visit the EPA WaterSense Fix a Leak Week website: https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week

The PUC regulates private water and wastewater utilities across the state. The PUC does not regulate county and municipal water and wastewater systems.