WEST ST PAUL, Minn. — A West St. Paul reservoir is back in service after it was temporarily shut down because of a vandalism incident Tuesday.
West St. Paul Police shared in a social media post that officers were alerted to a break-in at the St. Paul Regional Water Services (SPRWS) holding tank on Imperial Drive around 10 p.m. When squads arrived on scene officers saw a number of suspects fleeing from the scene.
Neighboring departments responded to help and were able to apprehend several juvenile and young adult suspects using drones, helicopters and ground searches.
Police soon learned that a lid to the water reservoir had been vandalized and contacted SPRWS. As a matter of caution water workers isolated and shut off the reservoir until water testing results come back and show that the water has not been compromised.
The water was tested by the Minnesota Department of Health as a precaution, and on Wednesday, results showed there was no contamination concern.
“These types of incidents are treated very seriously as they have the potential to involve purposeful contamination and affect water safety,” said Racquel Vaske, SPRWS general manager. “We’ve treated this matter with the utmost urgency and care to ensure the continued safety of our community. Our team worked through the night alongside the Minnesota Department of Health to evaluate the reservoir and collect water samples.”
Police say they are in the process of pursuing charges against the vandalism suspects.
