Griffith City Council has warned residents that a $2,000 fee will apply if a water meter on their property is stolen, missing, or tampered with.
The Council says the $2,000 fee demonstrates the seriousness of the criminal offence of water theft, which also puts unfair financial pressure on the whole community.
“Water theft not only disrupts supply but also drives up expenses for all ratepayers, who ultimately shoulder the cost of rectification. While Council owns the water meter, property owners are responsible for ensuring it’s protected from damage or theft,’ the Council said in a statement.
Only Council staff are authorised to connect to or disconnect from Council’s water mains. Unauthorised connections will be investigated as suspected water theft, it confirmed.
“Tampering with water infrastructure is dangerous and can put lives at risk. There is a very real danger of electrocution. Tampering can also contaminate the water supply, posing a health hazard to the community.”
If a water meter is stolen, residents must report the theft to Police and notify Council immediately. The Council will then arrange for a new meter to be installed as soon as possible.
“Every drop of water is a valuable community resource. Water theft and tampering affect everyone by adding financial pressure to ratepayers and putting additional stress on our water network,” said Mayor, Doug Curran.
He said residents were encouraged to help protect their community’s water supply by staying vigilant and promptly reporting any suspicious activity.
