Citizens fill pools with water from hydrants: municipal utilities react - "This is theft"

Many Holzkirchner fill their pool with water from public hydrants.

That is - without prior agreement - theft, warn the municipal utilities. 

Holzkirchen

- The whole thing was blown through peak times.

"Suddenly the water level in the elevated tanks was noticeably low," explains Dora Dvoracko from the Holzkirchen municipal works.

Your colleagues then had to start investigating the cause.

"Under certain circumstances it could also be a burst pipe."

To save money: Pool filled with water from public hydrants - "Inappropriate and even illegal"

But time and again the municipal utilities have identified a completely different cause: water is often taken from public hydrants - there are 350 in total in the municipality - "improperly and even illegally".

Many people would use it to fill their private pools in the garden without being asked, says Dvoracko.

Because this is faster than with the normal house management.

And because they want to save money with it.

A circumstance that especially increased in the Corona summer 2020 because most people spent their vacation at home.

Also this year there have already been two such water withdrawals, although the swimming and paddling season has not even started.

Holzkirchen: Pool owners let fire fighters help them with tapping water - "Often a special deal"

The hydrants are used to obtain extinguishing water when the fire brigade is deployed. However, sometimes it happens that pool owners know a fire fighter and then ask him for help with tapping water, says Dvoracko. “It is often a specialty business,” she says, emphasizing: “It is not the job of the fire brigade to fill pools.” In principle, it is good if “an instructed person” and not a layperson takes the water. But the correct and legal way is only through prior consultation with the municipal utilities.

The Holzkirchen commander Ludwig Würmseer confirms that there are many such inquiries to the fire brigade.

But these would always be rejected.

"We don't give out any hoses or anything like that." Würmseer is not aware that comrades help out here under the hand.

"We then tell the people that they should report directly to the municipal works." The fire brigade is not the right person to contact.

On the one hand, it's about the money.

Because everyone who takes water from the hydrant has to pay a corresponding bill, says Dvoracko.

“Everything else is theft, so a criminal offense.” In the end, all citizens could possibly suffer - if the increased costs have to be shared across the board.

Holzkirchen: Secretly tapped water from public hydrants - all drinking water can be contaminated

The second problem: From a purely technical point of view, the hydrants could be opened relatively easily with ordinary tools, according to the municipal works employee. However, a system separator should definitely be used. Otherwise there is a risk that the water will run back and - in the worst case - all of the drinking water in wooden churches will be contaminated. Fortunately, that has never happened before, says Dvoracko. But after all, you shouldn't take any chances. Würmseer, on the other hand, is a bit surprised that citizens can access the water from the hydrants so easily. After all, you need a special hydrant key to open it.

Be that as it may: Before this year's pool season starts, the municipal utilities ask citizens to contact the municipal utilities in advance.

"Even if the water from the hydrants shouldn't be the first choice," emphasizes Dvoracko.

On the other hand, the municipal company also wants to make other Holzkirchner aware of the issue and encourage them to report abuse.

The good news: The two pool owners, who already got water from the hydrants this year, made an exemplary inquiry to the municipal utilities and also paid their bill.

Contact:

Anyone who would like to obtain water from hydrants or report violations,

contact

the municipal services at: z 0 80 24/9 044 44.

Almost 2,000 first corona vaccinations in just one weekend: The special campaign by the Miesbach district at the Holzkirchen middle school was a complete success.

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