Saratoga Springs will slap $10K fine for cross-connecting water lines

SARATOGA SPRINGS — When crews shut off the city's irrigation lines in the fall, some residents tap into culinary pipes, getting water for outdoor use. This year, they will get a $10,000 fine instead.

The city imposed the fine for cross-connecting culinary and irrigation lines after a Campylobacter outbreak sickened dozens of residents earlier this summer. Cross-connecting can contaminate culinary water and may have caused the outbreak.

"We wanted to make sure that we take every precaution possible," Mayor Mia Love said. "It's our job to keep everyone as safe as we possibly can."

When the city finds a building with cross-connected lines, the water will be shut off immediately, and occupants will be given five days to fix the problem. Anyone caught cross-connecting with a previous warning will be fined $10,000.

"It certainly sends a message saying we're very serious about keeping the water clean," Love said. "We're not taking it lightly."

— Justin Ritter