Officials crack down on water thieves as York County's drought continues into winter - York Dispatch

Officials crack down on water thieves as York County's drought continues into winter
Anthony Maenza

When Hanover officials announced a mandatory water conservation order in response to York County's ongoing drought, they expected them to be taken seriously.

But some aren’t playing by the rules.

Borough Manager Margie Lewis said the municipality has recorded no fewer than five incidents of water theft, resulting in $500 worth of fines for the violators — two of whom had tapped into water mains illegally. The other three tapped into fire hydrants.

“The only legal connections are the ones we make and we meter,” she said.

The incident was similar to others reported across York County. In Stewartstown, for example, authorities reported similar thefts. In one case, a contractor reportedly tapped into a fire hydrant.

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And even more water thefts are likely going unnoticed.

“We know if we’ve caught five, that there are at least twice that many who have gotten away with it,” Lewis said. “It’s imperative that the public helps us here.”

All of this is taking place against the backdrop of a long-running drought that prompted The York Water Co. to issue a countywide mandatory water conservation order on Sept. 15 after water levels at Lake Redman, the county’s main reservoir, dropped significantly. That order remains in place today.

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The utility estimated it would need at least 4 inches of rain over 12 days to restore the water supply in Lake Redman.

While the county has seen several heavy rain events in recent weeks, they've hardly addressed the deficit.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Sonya Lewis said York County has had 1.94 inches of rain since Dec. 1. In the same two-week period last year, the county had only .63 inches, she said.

The largest rain days so far, Lewis said, came on Dec. 10 and 11 when 1.44 inches of rain fell on the county over those two days.

In Hanover, Lewis, the borough manager, said it remains unclear how much water was stolen since there were no meters in place at the hydrants to measure the water that was tapped.

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She said the thefts were made by contractors and sub-contractors who have been in the area. In another instance, someone hooked a tanker truck up to a fire hydrant, she said, but declined to say whose tanker truck it was.

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If the violators are caught stealing water again, Lewis said, they will face prosecution.

“The point of this is if it’s not a borough employee in a borough vehicle and identified as such or a firefighter who has permission to use hydrants, no one should be tapping a fire hydrant,” Lewis said. “No one should be pulling water out of any of the reservoirs, and no one should be connecting to any water mains.”

That’s why borough officials have asked residents and community members to report any suspected water theft, whether from fire hydrants, water mains or local reservoirs. Public monitoring and reporting of any misuse increase the effectiveness of borough efforts to protect water reserves.

On Nov. 20, the borough announced mandatory water conservation measures that require all water customers to stop all non-essential water use. Failure to abide by water conservation measures could result in fines, legal action, and potential water shut-off.

A combination of unusually low rainfall and an ongoing renovation of the Sheppard-Myers reservoir contributed to the conservation order.

Community members are encouraged to be alert for questionable hookups or usage. Borough officials ask citizens to immediately call 911 and report any suspected misuse. If possible, pictures of suspects or vehicles should be included in any report.

“We are asking the public to be our eyes and ears out there in the community,” Lewis said.

Lewis said a couple of the violators were caught because of citizens being alert.

“I think the most important thing is people know that this is their water and they need to help us protect it,” she said.

For concerns or more information about the water restrictions in Hanover, please contact the borough at 717-637-3877.

The water restrictions also apply to water customers in Penn and Heidelberg townships in York County and Conewago Township and McSherrystown in Adams County. Hanover Borough supplies water to those municipalities, and Lewis said that those customers have been made aware of the restrictions.

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