Posted by Staff | @CorridorNews

The City of San Marcos is asking the public’s help in reporting water theft from fire hydrants involving commercial vehicles drawing water directly from hydrants without using City installed temporary water meters.

Taking water directly from the hydrant without using a City-installed meter is considered theft and endangers the City water supply.

Temporary water meters, or fire hydrant meters, accurately gauge water use for billing purposes and have backflow prevention devices to keep contaminated water from entering the City water distribution system.

Construction contractors wishing to rent a temporary water meter should come by the City of San Marcos Water/Wastewater Utility office, 630 E. Hopkins to find out if a hydrant meter is available and to establish an address where the meter will be set up. 

Once availability and location have been verified, the customer will go to the City of San Marcos Utility Billing office next door to set up a new account.  When the account has been established, Utility Billing creates a work order that comes to W/WW, and City personnel will install the meter.  

The charge for a new account is $40. There is a $750 deposit for the hydrant meter plus an installation fee of $75.  Monthly water rates apply based on the volume of water used plus a $100 monthly rental fee. 

For more information or to report suspected theft of City water, call the City of San Marcos Water/Wastewater Utility at 512.393.8010.

Press Release provided by the City of San Marcos