§ 116985 Water Contamination Prevention

Health and Safety Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

Key Takeaways

•Don't let dirty stuff like toilets, dead animals, or garbage sit near water like lakes or rivers.
•If bad stuff leaks into the water, it can make people sick who use that water.
•This rule is for anyone who owns or uses land near water.

Example

You have a broken toilet near a lake where people get their drinking water.

If you leave the broken toilet there and it leaks into the lake, you're breaking the law because it can make the water dirty and unsafe.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 116985 Water Contamination Prevention

No person shall allow any water closet, privy, cesspool, or septic tank, or carcass of any dead animal, or any offal of any kind, to remain in or upon the borders of any stream, pond, lake, or reservoir within the boundaries of any land owned or occupied by him or her, in a manner that the drainage from the water closet, privy, cesspool or septic tank, or carcass, or offal, may be taken up by or in the stream, pond, lake, or reservoir, if water is drawn therefrom for the supply of any portion of the inhabitants of this state. (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 drainage inhabitants of this state

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 116985.

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Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References