The Altoona Water Authority Thursday created a new “penalty fee” for theft of hydrant services to deter unauthorized use of fire hydrants — instances of which have come to the authority’s attention with increasing frequency.

The penalty fee will be $2,500.

The fee is not designated as a fine, because fines are the province of law enforcement, according to authority solicitor David Gaines.

The authority began to realize the possible scope of the problem due mainly to tips it has received, although there can be evidence of tampering on the hydrants themselves and the potential for authority employees to catch thieves in the act, according to authority General Manager Mark Perry.

The tips led the authority to install cameras, which revealed three cases of hydrant theft last year, according to Perry and Water Operations Director Mike Bianconi.

The authority has contacted police when it has discovered instances of hydrant theft, but the police have a higher “burden of proof,” including the need to show “malicious intent,” before they can bring charges, according to Gaines.

The new penalty fee can function as a “backstop” for the authority, Gaines said.

It’s not clear how much water was stolen in the three cases caught on camera last year, and it’s not clear how many other instances of hydrant theft have been occurring, according to Perry and Bianconi.

Deterrence is the main motivation for the new penalty fee, rather than stopping the loss of water for which the authority isn’t compensated, Perry said.

Unauthorized opening of hydrants can cause damage to the hydrants, some of which are in remote locations, Perry said.

The authority inspects its hydrants annually, but other activities could lead to them being “compromised,” he said.

Unauthorized hydrant use can also introduce contamination into the system due to lack of backflow prevention, said staff engineer Jim Potopa.

Controller Gina DeRubeis asked if it would make sense to consider hydrant locks.

That could create an issue, because locks could interfere with firefighters being able to open the hydrants quickly in emergencies, Perry said.

Thieves could be opening the hydrants to fill swimming pools or 300-gallon contractor “totes,” Perry said, noting it’s likely that hydrant theft occurs more frequently in summer.

If someone needs a bulk water delivery, they can contact the authority to arrange for it to be done legally, with the water being metered, Bianconi said.

The creation of the penalty fee was part of an amendment of the Water and Wastewater Schedule of Fees approved by the board.

Its provisions go into effect March 1.

The penalty fee for ordinary theft of water service remains at $500, Perry said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.