ACWA Co-Sponsors Legislation that Aims to Deter Hydrant Water Theft by ACWA Staff Feb 19, 2025 Water News ACWA-sponsored SB 394, authored by Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) and co-sponsored by Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, would allow local agencies providing water services to adopt an ordinance with enhanced penalties for water theft from a fire hydrant. SB 394 helps to address inefficiencies in current penalties and would establish the following fines for water theft from a fire hydrant: A fine not exceeding $2,500 for the first violation A fine not exceeding $5,000 for the second violation A fine not exceeding $10,000 for the third and each additional violation Additionally, the bill would remove the one-year reset on existing penalties for the third and additional violations for water theft committed via meter tampering and other methods. This bill would also help agencies recover damages by authorizing utilities to pursue civil remedies against any person who tampers with or diverts water from a fire hydrant without authorization. A fact sheet is available with more information about the bill. ACWA also sent a Legislative Alert urging members to join a coalition in support of SB 394.
