MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO OP: Stealing Water is a Crime

See the Various Ways Water is Stolen from WSSC and Hear from Montgomery and Prince George’s County Fire Chiefs about the Public Safety Consequences

July 11, 2016 | News Release

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Laurel – July 11, 2016: WSSC is cracking down on water theft. Last year approximately 145 million gallons of water were stolen from fire hydrants to fill up swimming pools, for landscaping purposes, mobile car washes or use at construction sites and neighborhood carnivals.

Wednesday, July 13 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., WSSC, in partnership with the Montgomery and Prince George’s County fire chiefs, will hold a special event for the media to:

• Raise awareness about water theft
• Detail the various types of theft
• Explain the fines associated with stealing water
• Highlight the public safety consequences

WSSC maintains nearly 42,000 fire hydrants in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Stealing water from hydrants is not only illegal but also often leads to hydrant tampering, causing public safety concerns.

WHAT: WSSC Water Theft Prevention Briefing/Photo Op

WHO: Chief Harvey Baker, WSSC Police

          Fire Chief Scott Goldstein, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue

          Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue

           Assistant Fire Chief Darren Ware, Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department

          Chief Spokesperson, Mark Brady, Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department

WHEN: Wednesday, July 13, 2016, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Rain or Shine

WHERE: The Bentley Park Community, Bentley Park Dr. and Pargate Dr., Laurel (off Old Gunpowder Rd.)

VISUALS: Demonstration of illegal fire hydrant connection to steal water, photos of various illegal connections and fire hydrant meter used for the legal purchase of water from a hydrant.