Temporary water meters that are supposed to provide short‑term potable water for construction sites, events and volunteer projects across Oʻahu are quietly vanishing from the curb, and the disappearing act is getting expensive. The Board of Water Supply reports that about 22 temporary fire‑hydrant meters have been illegally removed over the last two‑and‑a‑half years, with eight of those thefts reported in just the past three months. Each rented meter costs roughly $3,000 to replace, officials say, and that bill lands squarely on the permit holder.
How thieves are getting past the locks
When a temporary meter is installed, Board of Water Supply crews do not exactly leave it naked. The devices are wrapped in thick steel chain and secured with multiple heavy‑duty padlocks. Even so, the utility’s public information officer said that taking one would require a grinder or industrial bolt cutters and still "requires quite a bit of effort." In other words, this is not a casual grab on the way home.
Once a meter is in place, the agency says the permit holder is responsible for protecting it, and also for the replacement cost if it disappears. Recyclers told reporters the brass and bronze inside typically fetch about $2 to $3 per pound, while functioning used meters can resell for hundreds of dollars, according to Hawaii News Now.
Small projects feeling the loss
The crimes are not just hitting big construction outfits. State Sen. Brenton Awa said one stolen meter on the North Shore had been serving the Haleiwa Seed Bank, which relied on the hookup to water community plantings of coconut and ulu trees. "We set this up with the Board of Water so that we’re within the rules… and then it just wasn’t here one day," Awa told reporters.
The loss forced volunteers to change their plans and left organizers scrambling to cover water costs or chase down alternate sources, according to Hawaii News Now. For grassroots projects that already run on tight budgets and donated labor, one missing meter can feel like a gut punch.
Legal and enforcement context
Hawaii law puts tight documentation and record‑keeping requirements on scrap dealers and specifically bars them from buying municipal, utility or state‑owned equipment without proper proof of ownership. The state’s scrap‑dealer rules are spelled out in chapter 445 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, as noted by the Hawaii Legislature.
On top of that, local ordinances regulate secondhand and scrap dealers and give enforcement agencies tools to trace suspicious purchases and prosecute fencing or theft, according to the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu. Permit holders and residents who spot tampering or find that a meter has gone missing are urged to report it to the utility and to local police so investigators can track the equipment under state and county rules.
What to do if you see something
The Board of Water Supply is asking anyone who notices suspicious activity around temporary meters to call its trouble line at (808) 748‑5000, and to alert police right away if a theft appears to be in progress.
Contractors and event organizers are being reminded to double‑check chains and locks, photograph meter installations for their records and report any losses promptly so utilities and law enforcement have a better shot at following leads.
Police and utility officials say they are working to cut into demand on the resale market and to hold both sellers and buyers accountable. For now, though, the most effective defense is basic neighborhood awareness. A little extra vigilance at the curb can save thousands of dollars in replacement costs and help protect shared water resources that a lot of small projects depend on.
