While the Board of Public Utilities has received mostly bad news lately concerning finances and budgets during the economic crunch this year, they did receive some good news earlier this week.

According to a BPU study, there have been less water leaks from this point last year and more hydrants are in service.

Steve Green provided BPU board members an update at Wednesday's meeting.

"Main leaks are down nine percent," he said. "They are down 15 percent from the five year average."

Green also said only five current hydrants within BPU's service area in the county are out of service. BPU General Manager Don Gray said the number is far less than in previous years.

"In the past we've had dozens of hydrants down," he said. "We've come a long way in the area."

Because of the lack of problems and the wetter summer, overtime hours are down seven percent in the water department.