Lebanon Utilities halts hydrant bulk water program over theft and contamination fears

Lebanon Utilities halts hydrant bulk water program over theft and contamination fearsFollowing incidents of unmetered access and potential backflow risks, the Indiana utility is restricting bulk water access to a single designated site to improve water loss accounting and safeguard public health.

The utility will suspend the hydrant meter bulk water program effective May 15, 2026, redirecting all bulk withdrawals to its wastewater treatment plant.

Staff cited a recent incident where a contractor connected to a hydrant without a meter or backflow device, risking system contamination.

Unaccounted water losses from unread or unreturned hydrant meters have skewed state audits and cost the utility tens of thousands of dollars.

The board also approved a $140,000 guaranteed maximum price contract with Bowen Engineering to repair a water main at the Park Street bridge.

Lebanon Utilities will suspend its hydrant meter bulk water program effective May 15, 2026, following a unanimous vote by the Utility Service Board on April 22 to address mounting security, financial, and public health concerns. Utility staff reported that the program currently has eight to ten hydrant meters in the field, but recent misuse prompted the suspension. A recent incident involved a contractor drawing water from a hydrant without a meter or a backflow prevention device. Staff warned that such practices create severe contamination risks; a sudden drop in system pressure could siphon hauled liquids back into the municipal water supply, triggering an immediate boil order. The suspension is also aimed at curbing water theft and improving the accuracy of state-mandated water audits. Because 90% of the utility's hydrant meters lack cellular reading capabilities, the utility cannot track withdrawal volumes until the meters are returned. Staff estimated that unaccounted water from bulk hauling could represent tens of thousands of dollars in lost revenue, noting that unmetered losses can quickly reach $100,000 over multiple truckloads. Additionally, unauthorized users have damaged infrastructure by using standard pipe wrenches instead of dedicated hydrant wrenches, stripping the top nuts and potentially delaying fire department emergency responses. Under the new policy, bulk water access will be restricted to a designated site at the utility's Lafayette Road wastewater treatment plant, allowing daily monitoring of outgoing volumes. The board approved an exception for utility-managed projects, such as ongoing pipe lining work, at the utility's discretion. In separate water infrastructure business, the board approved a $140,000 guaranteed maximum price (GMP) agreement with Bowen Engineering for water main repairs at the Park Street bridge. The costs for the project, which will seal gaps in the bridge abutments caused by the pipe penetration, will be split evenly with Boone County under a newly approved interlocal agreement.