Orange Water and Sewer Authority
Policy Regarding Water Theft

Orange Water and Sewer Authority covenants in its Bond Order that no free service shall be given to any individual or entity. To satisfy this covenant with our Bondholders of Record, and to minimize inequities to our ratepayers, it is the policy of Orange Water and Sewer Authority to aggressively deter any person or entity from the theft of water or other services from OWASA.

To this end, OWASA may employ the full force of the State of North Carolina's Criminal Code GS 14-151.1 to deter such theft. This law permits OWASA to charge the perpetrator either $500.00, or three times the actual losses and damages, whichever is greater. Enforcement measures may include the levying of fines, discontinuation of existing service, removal of existing service connections, demanding full payment of new service charges for reinstatement of service, the recording of liens for unpaid fines and fees, and/or any other measure allowed by law. In extremely egregious cases, deterrence measures may include the filing of criminal charges.

It shall be the responsibility of every OWASA employee to be vigilant for instances of water theft. Authority to implement and interpret this policy is delegated to the Executive Director of Orange Water and Sewer Authority.