Security for Water, Wastewater and Municipal Infrastructure
Patrols and guards for treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs and city yards facing copper theft and intrusion.
Water and wastewater systems run on hundreds of small, unstaffed sites: pump stations, wells, reservoirs, lift stations and storm drain pumps. They are full of copper and electrical gear, and many sit in industrial areas with little foot traffic. In March 2013, thieves stripped the wiring from a Long Beach storm drain pump station that had no cameras, taking it out of service.
Municipal assets are hit the same way: Los Angeles logged 45,927 streetlight repair requests in 2024, much of it tied to wire theft. Larger plants have their own gaps. A Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury found guards posted in fixed kiosks who did not patrol perimeters, with nights and weekends left to plant operators, and recommended 24 hour coverage with perimeter patrols. Federal law requires community water systems serving more than 3,300 people to assess risks from malevolent acts, including physical barriers, and to review that assessment at least every five years.
What we protect against
- Copper wire theft from pump stations, wells, lift stations and storm drain pumps
- Fence cutting and intrusion at treatment plants, reservoirs and tanks
- Vandalism of electrical panels, controls and backup generators
- Theft of vehicles, tools, fuel and materials from city corporation yards
- Trespass and encampments on utility land and channels
- Tampering that disrupts service or creates public safety hazards
What we provide
- Treatment plant gate posts with visitor and contractor logging
- Logged perimeter rounds at plants instead of static kiosk coverage
- Randomized overnight armed patrol routes across pump stations, wells and reservoirs
- Door, panel, hatch and fence inspections with photo reports
- Corporation yard protection for vehicles, fuel and materials
- Immediate notification to operations staff and police when tampering is found
- Activity data that supports AWIA risk and resilience assessment updates
Rules and requirements
- Under America's Water Infrastructure Act Section 2013 (Safe Drinking Water Act Section 1433), community water systems serving more than 3,300 people must complete a risk and resilience assessment and an emergency response plan, review the assessment at least every five years, and certify each to EPA. The emergency response plan is due within six months of certifying the assessment.
- AB 476 (signed October 13, 2025) adds signed seller ownership statements to junk dealer records and expands the list of public agency and CPUC regulated utility items dealers cannot possess without the owner's written certification. The list now includes street lights, traffic signals, backflow devices, water meters, and sewer and stormwater pump station equipment.
General information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements for your license and location.
Example program with more than one officer
Post an unarmed guard at the treatment plant gate 24 hours a day for visitor and contractor control, with hourly logged perimeter rounds instead of a static kiosk. Overnight, run one armed patrol unit on a randomized route across 10 to 20 pump stations, wells and reservoirs, with photo checks of doors, panels and fences. Add an unarmed guard at the corporation yard after hours only if vehicle or fuel theft is ongoing.
Questions we get
We have dozens of unstaffed sites. Do we need a guard at each one?
No. A randomized armed patrol route across clusters of sites, with GPS and photo verified checks, gives visible coverage at a fraction of fixed post cost.
Can your reports help with our AWIA assessment?
Our patrol and incident data can document intrusion attempts, fence damage and response times, which your team can use when reviewing physical security risks.
Do officers enter treatment areas or operate equipment?
No. Officers stay in authorized areas, observe and report, and notify operators and police. They do not operate or adjust any equipment.
Which officers fit
Most sites need one officer type. Larger sites and events sometimes use more than one.
Unarmed guards
Common
Unarmed guards fit treatment plant gates, visitor control, corporation yards and overnight observation at sites in lower risk areas.
Armed guards
Primary
Armed officers fit overnight patrols covering remote pump stations, wells and reservoirs with copper theft history.
Off duty police officers
Common
Off duty officers fit short term details after repeat thefts, public meetings or events at facilities, and coordination with local police on problem locations.
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Where we cover water and utilities
Not sure what you need? Call or text (909) 927-7001 and talk to the owner directly, or send us a few details.