Vandals apparently opened a fire hydrant in Festus early today, Jan. 17, releasing thousands of gallons of water, city officials reported.
After an approximately three-hour search, the open fire hydrant was discovered along Shapiro Drive in the Festus Commerce & Business Center.
Chuck Boyer, the Festus water foreman, said he learned from the Jokerst Water Plant that serves Festus and Herculaneum that water was gushing out of the system, and he and other Water Department employees drove around in search of the source of the water loss.
“We got a call about 2 a.m. from the water plant notifying us we were losing water,” Boyer said. “We found a hydrant open down a cul-de-sac off Shapiro Drive at about 5 a.m.”
He said it is not yet known how much water was lost.
Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis said the incident, which appears to be a case of vandalism, is under investigation.
“(The water deluge) didn’t cause any damage,” Lewis said. “But, it reduced water pressure in the southwest part of the city.”
It also wasted a great deal of water, he noted.
Anyone with information about the vandalism is urged to call the Festus Police at 636-937-3646.