Theft is one of the factors contributing to a spike in the amount of drinking water lost between The Blue Mountains water treatment plant and household water metres, according to town staff. TBM reported a 27.3-per-cent loss in its drinking water system in 2020, a sharp increase over the 16-per-cent loss posted in 2019. Leaking infrastructure, water theft, and meter issues are among the reasons for the loss, according to water and wastewater service staff. Incidents of water theft reported by TBM staff include the illegal operation of fire hydrants, bypassing water meters, and contractors accessing water mains via curb stops.