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Friday 15 February 2008

Council concerned at ‘water theft’

The Clutha District Council says it’s disappointed to learn some rural water consumers have resorted to tampering with water fittings to increase their own flow.

Chief Executive Charles Hakkaart said that during the current dry spell, with water shortage becoming critical on farms, a few cases had come to Council’s attention of unauthorised tampering by consumers to increase their own flow.

“This selfish and illegal practice equates to stealing water from neighbours, and is totally unacceptable as it inevitably results in further shortfall of supply to neighbouring consumers who are already struggling themselves,” Mr Hakkaart said.

Usually such offending involved installing an illegal additional connection, or illegally removing a water restrictor, or drilling it out.

Mr Hakkaart said a number of actions were available to Council where such water theft was detected. 

These included assessing a charge for the unauthorised water use, restricting the supply at the boundary to the minimum required for household sanitary purposes, and/or further legal action.

“Council’s contractors undertake regular routine tank inspections, and also respond to specific reports of supply shortfalls.  Therefore the likelihood of getting caught is high, and Council will pursue actions against such offenders in order to protect the supply to legitimate consumers.

Mr Hakkaart said Council understood the current dry spell was placing strain on some rural water consumers. However, he urged any Council water consumers experiencing supply difficulties to contact Council, rather than tampering with their fittings.