Board of Water Supply reservoir hit by copper thieves
Thieves stripped aluminum from wiring to steal copper at the Board of Water Supply's Kalihi reservoir on April 6, triggering a water outage for four hours.
Vandals struck the reservoir on April 11, this time burning the insulation covering the cables, then cutting and removing copper wiring owned by Hawaiian Telcom.
Copper thieves in the past week have struck a Honolulu Board of Water Supply reservoir twice — one time disrupting water service for some Kalihi residents.
The Board of Water Supply Monday afternoon said it needs the community’s help to protect its facilities after copper thieves twice broke into a reservoir to steal copper wiring.
On April 6, vandals cut through the copper wires of the communication system that monitors water levels in the Kalihi 614 reservoir, BWS said. Service to an estimated 100 homes in Kalihi Valley was affected. Service was restored within four hours and water quality was not affected, BWS said.
The same reservoir was struck again on April 11, which the insulation covering cables were burned before copper wiring owned by Hawaiian Telcom was cut and removed. Water service was not affected.
Both cases remain under investigation, and the BWS said it is working to increase security.
Anyone tresspassing on BWS property, including reservoirs, faces up to $600 in fines and six months in prison.
Suspicious activity at BWS sites should be reported to police, or to BWS security at 748-5911, which is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
