§ 116980 Water Contamination Prohibition

Health and Safety Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

Key Takeaways

•Don't dump gross stuff like dead animals or toilet waste near water that people use.
•This includes lakes, ponds, or streams where people get their drinking water.
•The rule is to keep the water clean and safe for everyone.

Example

You have an old septic tank on your property that is broken and leaking waste near a lake where your town gets its drinking water.

This is not allowed because the leaking waste can get into the lake and make the water dirty and unsafe for people to drink.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 116980 Water Contamination Prohibition

No person shall put any water closet, privy, cesspool or septic tank, or the carcass of any dead animal, or any offal of any kind, in, or upon the borders of, any stream, pond, lake, or reservoir from which water is drawn for the supply of any portion of the inhabitants of this state, in a manner that the drainage of the water closet, privy, cesspool or septic tank, or carcass, or offal may be taken up by or in the water. (Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1996.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

water closet privy cesspool septic tank carcass offal stream pond lake reservoir

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 116980.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References