Water pipe leaks are a common issue many residents face as general wear and tear impacts their home over the years.  However, if the leak goes unnoticed, it can cause damage to other parts of the home and property as well as produce outrageous water bills.  Municipal authorities and public utility companies have the resources to track or identify high water bills and detect potential leaks.  However, these municipal authorities and public utility companies are not required to provide notice to residents of dramatic increases in water usage and thus these issues can compound.  My legislation will address this oversight.
 
My legislation will amend Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) and Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by requiring municipal authorities or public utility companies to provide notice to utility customers if they determine that the property’s water usage has increased by 50 percent above average for one month.  The municipal authority or public utility shall make reasonable efforts to inform the utility customer of the increase in usage and assist the utility customer in identifying any potential leaks or other wasteful inefficiencies on the property. 
 
By working together, we can prevent the terror that occurs when a resident opens a drastically increased water bill caused by an unknown source.  Please join me in keeping Pennsylvania residents informed and help them address potential issues by co-sponsoring this bill.