California · Health and Safety Code - HSC

HSC §5411.5: (a) Any person who, without regard to intent or negligence, causes or permits any sewage or other waste, or the effluent of treated sewage or other waste, to be discharged in or on any waters of the s

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A person who causes sewage or waste to discharge into state waters must immediately notify the local health officer. Failure to notify is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $500–$1,000, imprisonment under one year, or both.

Read the full statutory text

(a) Any person who, without regard to intent or negligence, causes or permits any sewage or other waste, or the effluent of treated sewage or other waste, to be discharged in or on any waters of the state, or discharged in or deposited where it is, or probably will be, discharged in or on any waters of the state, shall, as soon as that person has knowledge of the discharge, immediately notify the local health officer or the director of environmental health of the discharge. (b) A person who fails to provide the notice required by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisonment for less than one year, or both the fine and imprisonment. (c) The notification required by this section shall not apply to a discharge authorized by law and in compliance with waste discharge requirements or other requirements established by the appropriate regional water quality control board or the State Water Resources Control Board. (d) The notification required by this section shall not apply to an unauthorized discharge of effluent of treated sewage defined as recycled water pursuant to Section 13050 or 13529.2 of the Water Code.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.