Metro

The Altoona Water Authority plans to create a formal permitting process for the use of fire hydrants in non-emergency situations.

General Manager Mark Perry mentioned those plans in the context of a discussion at a meeting this week about the authority’s bulk water distribution station at its water yard at 20th Street and Beale Avenue.

“It’s been a problem for us — unauthorized activity on hydrants,” Perry said.

The permitting won’t be complicated, but will enable the authority to know who is using a hydrant for what purpose, Perry said.

Problems that can result from hydrants being opened without the authority’s knowledge in non-emergency situations include “lost” or unaccounted-for water, contaminants entering the system for lack of backflow prevention, outages at higher elevations due to large diverted flows and even main breakage due to the “water hammer” effect of massive flows suddenly shut off, according to Perry.

The water hammer effect is similar to what happens to the cars of a train when the locomotive in front stops suddenly, he said.

Sometimes contractors, including demolition contractors, will seek to use water from hydrants, Perry said.

“In certain instances, we will permit it,” he said.

Otherwise, it steers them to the bulk water station, which can be operated with a credit card like a gasoline pump, Perry said.

The biggest problem with unauthorized hydrant use involves volunteer fire companies, which sometimes open them for training, “without making us aware,” Perry said.

The authority has tried to inform fire companies of the issue, Perry said.

One authority employee attended a meeting of fire chiefs to provide information, said Brad Kelly, director of sewer operations.

Fire companies can obtain water at the bulk water station for free, said Billing Director Jim Houck.

The authority can impose penalties for unauthorized use, according to Perry.

Such penalties are not fines — as the authority doesn’t have the power to levy fines, said solicitor David Gaines.

There could also be criminal charges for theft of service, Gaines said.

“It’s ultimately about public safety,” Perry said. “We need to maintain a potable water system.”

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