JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. — Water suppliers in Jefferson and St. Charles counties have issued statements after political ads were projected onto water towers this month.
The first happened on Oct. 22. According to a report from Leader Publications, a large blue campaign poster that said, “TRUMP VANCE 2024,” was projected for less than an hour on the Public Water Supply District 1 water tower off Michigan Avenue near I-55 and Hwy. 141.
In a statement, Public Water Supply District 1 of Jefferson County said the people responsible for the projection did not have permission.
"PWSD#1 is a public entity and we do not endorse any political party or candidate for any office," the statement said.
According to Leader Publications, an Arnold police officer found a 41-year-old Clayton man who was in the Arnold Commons parking lot off Hwy. 141 projecting the image onto the water tower. After talking with the officer, the man stopped projecting the image and left, police reported.
Arnold Police are not pursuing criminal charges against the man at this time, Leader Publications reported.
This week, Public Water Supply District No. 2, in St. Charles County, posted a similar statement about a projection on its water tower off South Outer 40 Road, which is visible from Interstate 64.
"We would like to address recent political advertisements that have been placed on our water tower," the notice said. "These advertisements were not authorized or endorsed by PWSD#2. We had no involvement in their placement, and they do not reflect our views or business practice."
The district's statement said they do not permit the display of advertisements and they are taking steps to "address this unauthorized activity and ensure it does not happen again in the future."
Election projections are not exclusive to the St. Louis area. Earlier this month, a man was fined after projecting a pro-Trump message on a water tower in Hanson, Massachusetts, according to NBC10 Boston.
You can read the full statements from the water companies below:
PWSD No. 1 statement
The District is aware of a political sign being projected onto our water tower on Michigan Avenue that could be seen from Highway 55 last night. PWSD#1 is a public entity and we do not endorse any political party or candidate for any office. We are looking into the situation to help prevent issues in the future. District funds were not used to project the image onto our tower, and no one had permission to do so either.
PWSD No. 2 statement
We would like to address recent political advertisements that have been placed on our water tower. These advertisements were not authorized or endorsed by PWSD#2. We had no involvement in their placement, and they do not reflect our views or business practice.
Our water tower and facilities are intended solely for community and business use, and we do not permit the display of any advertisements. Steps are being taken to address this unauthorized activity and ensure it does not happen again in the future.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us directly.
