diff --git a/charts/postgres-operator/crds/operatorconfigurations.yaml b/charts/postgres-operator/crds/operatorconfigurations.yaml
index 7e3b607c0..c6ab0514d 100644
--- a/charts/postgres-operator/crds/operatorconfigurations.yaml
+++ b/charts/postgres-operator/crds/operatorconfigurations.yaml
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ spec:
               type: boolean
             enable_shm_volume:
               type: boolean
+            should_delete_unused_pvc:
+              type: boolean
             etcd_host:
               type: string
             max_instances:
diff --git a/charts/postgres-operator/values-crd.yaml b/charts/postgres-operator/values-crd.yaml
index 79940b236..4cf538b2c 100644
--- a/charts/postgres-operator/values-crd.yaml
+++ b/charts/postgres-operator/values-crd.yaml
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ configGeneral:
   enable_crd_validation: true
   # start any new database pod without limitations on shm memory
   enable_shm_volume: true
+  # delete PVCs of shutdown pods
+  should_delete_unused_pvc: false
   # etcd connection string for Patroni. Empty uses K8s-native DCS.
   etcd_host: ""
   # Spilo docker image
diff --git a/charts/postgres-operator/values.yaml b/charts/postgres-operator/values.yaml
index 29f85339d..b3f26d646 100644
--- a/charts/postgres-operator/values.yaml
+++ b/charts/postgres-operator/values.yaml
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ configGeneral:
   enable_crd_validation: "true"
   # start any new database pod without limitations on shm memory
   enable_shm_volume: "true"
+  # delete PVCs of shutdown pods
+  should_delete_unused_pvc: "false"
   # etcd connection string for Patroni. Empty uses K8s-native DCS.
   etcd_host: ""
   # Spilo docker image
diff --git a/manifests/operatorconfiguration.crd.yaml b/manifests/operatorconfiguration.crd.yaml
index 4e6858af8..a605b6d04 100644
--- a/manifests/operatorconfiguration.crd.yaml
+++ b/manifests/operatorconfiguration.crd.yaml
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ spec:
               type: boolean
             enable_shm_volume:
               type: boolean
+            should_delete_unused_pvc:
+              type: boolean
             etcd_host:
               type: string
             max_instances:
diff --git a/manifests/postgresql-operator-default-configuration.yaml b/manifests/postgresql-operator-default-configuration.yaml
index 9d609713c..bba8405db 100644
--- a/manifests/postgresql-operator-default-configuration.yaml
+++ b/manifests/postgresql-operator-default-configuration.yaml
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ configuration:
   etcd_host: ""
   docker_image: registry.opensource.zalan.do/acid/spilo-12:1.6-p2
   # enable_shm_volume: true
+  # should_delete_unused_pvc: false
   max_instances: -1
   min_instances: -1
   resync_period: 30m