EBMUD Might Lower Fines for Water Theft

East Bay water officials might lower the fines for stealing water from the region’s grid.

The East Bay Municipal Utility District board of directors is expected to vote Tuesday on the resolution. The change would apply only to violations for meter tampering -- not diverting water from a pipe or fire hydrant.

It would decrease the fine from $1,000 to $200 for the first violation, from $2,000 to $400 for the second offense, and from $3,000 to $800 for the third.

Meter tampering occurs when residents who have had their water shut off break into the meter to bring water back to their homes.

EBMUD spokeswoman Jenesse Miller said the fines were placing too much of a burden on low-income residents.

“It does create sort of even more barriers for people to get back into lawful water service and water use to have such steep fees,” Miller said.

EBMUD has also considered lowering penalties for all three forms of water theft, and could still vote to approve those options at Tuesday’s meeting.