Plumbing · Research

Plumbing research and data

Three datasets are worth knowing as a homeowner. The EPA estimates household leaks waste nearly 1 trillion gallons nationwide each year, averaging over 9,300 gallons per home. The Insurance Information Institute reports water damage and freezing claims affect about one in 60 insured homes annually, averaging roughly $13,954 across 2018–2022. And EPA's 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements requires water systems to identify and replace lead service lines on a 10-year timeline.

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The leak numbers reframe what "small" means. A single faucet at one drip per second wastes more than 3,000 gallons a year. About 9% of homes have leaks losing more than 50 gallons a day. That's why the EPA's free two-hour meter test is the highest-return thing in this entire section.

The insurance data explains why plumbing decisions deserve more caution than their sticker price suggests. Water damage and freezing is the second most frequent homeowners loss category after wind and hail. The cost of the plumbing failure is almost never the cost of the plumbing.

On lead: EPA finalized the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements on October 8, 2024, requiring systems to identify and replace lead pipes within a 10-year timeline, with more rigorous testing and a lower action level. The current national primary drinking water regulation lists a lead action level of 0.010 mg/L. What this means for your specific address depends on your water system's service line inventory — your utility is required to communicate about lead pipes in its system, and its annual Consumer Confidence Report is the place to start.

Be careful with statistics you see quoted in contractor marketing. Numbers about "the average home" are national and often several years old. They're useful for framing a decision. They are not evidence about your house.

How to choose

Use national data for framing, not diagnosis: Statistics tell you what's worth checking. Only measurements at your address tell you what's actually happening.
Read your utility's Consumer Confidence Report: Community water systems must deliver one each year by July 1. It covers your actual water system, including lead education content.
Check your utility's lead service line inventory: Under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, systems must identify lead pipes and communicate with residents about them. Ask your utility what's recorded for your address.
Distrust a statistic without a source: If a contractor's presentation cites a percentage with no attribution, ask where it came from. Often there's no answer.

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FAQ

Plumbing research — common questions

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How much water do household leaks waste?

The EPA estimates nearly 1 trillion gallons nationwide per year, with the average home wasting over 9,300 gallons annually and about 9% of homes losing more than 50 gallons a day.

How common is water damage in homes?

The Insurance Information Institute reports water damage and freezing affected roughly one in 60 insured homes annually with an average claim near $13,954 over 2018–2022, making it the second most common homeowners claim after wind and hail.

Are lead pipes still in use?

Yes, which is why EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements — finalized October 8, 2024 — requires water systems to identify and replace lead service lines within a 10-year timeline. Ask your water utility what's on record for your address.

What is the lead action level in drinking water?

EPA's National Primary Drinking Water Regulations list a lead action level of 0.010 mg/L. EPA also states there is no safe level of lead exposure.

Sources

Where these figures come from

EPA WaterSense — Fix a Leak Week · retrieved 2026-07-25
Insurance Information Institute — Facts + Statistics: Homeowners and Renters Insurance · retrieved 2026-07-25
EPA — Lead and Copper Rule Improvements · retrieved 2026-07-25
EPA — National Primary Drinking Water Regulations · retrieved 2026-07-25
EPA — CCR Information for Consumers · retrieved 2026-07-25