A MAN who wanted to fill a tank of water for a religious ceremony was charged with stealing water from a Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) fire hydrant.

Twenty-seven-year-old Amos Bisnath told the court on Thursday he wanted the tank of water for an upcoming ’prayers’.

’You wanted it to do something for a religious purpose and yet you stole the water. It does not mesh,’ Magistrate Alicia Chankar said.

Bisnath pleaded guilty to attaching a two-inch 20-foot hose with an adaption to the hydrant.

He was seen by WASA Estate Constable Keith Cyrus who was on mobile patrol in a marked WASA vehicle at Reform Village, Williamsville on April 4. Bisnath was later served with a summons.

Chankar warned him that although he had a problem getting pipe-borne water, his actions could not be condoned.

But the magistrate did not fine or convict Bisnath.

’You have reached 27 years with a clean record and that is a feat these days,’ she said. She reprimanded and discharged him. Bisnath was allowed to walk out the Fourth Court a free man.

The rubber hose was ordered to be destroyed.

Last month WASA issued a news release stating it will be cracking down on illegal water connections. ’Effective immediately, the provisions of the Water and Sewerage Act Chap 54:40, regarding illegal connections to the authority’s water mains/lines, will be strictly enforced,’ the release said.

Anybody found with an illegal WASA connection will be given two weeks to regularise their status at any WASA Customer Service Centre throughout the country, the release said. Should this not be done, the authority said, it will take any action deemed necessary under the law to deal with offenders.

WASA estimates there are between 20,000 and 40,000 illegal connections off its transmission and distribution systems, the release said.