Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

Miscellaneous provisions - Offences - Offences relating to wastewater networks

315: Engaging in conduct relating to wastewater network that causes specified serious risk

You could also call this:

"Don't cause big risks with wastewater systems or you could get in trouble."

Illustration for Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

If you do something with a wastewater network that causes a big risk, you can get in trouble. You must not do things that cause a big risk on purpose or be careless about causing it. If you break this rule, you can be punished when you are found guilty. You might have to go to prison for up to 2 years, or pay a fine of up to $75,000, or both, if you are an individual, or pay a fine of up to $1.5 million if you are a company.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1006761.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Food and water safetyGovernment and voting > Local councils
Previous

314: Connecting to, disconnecting from, or discharging into wastewater network without authorisation, or

"Don't connect to or mess with wastewater systems without permission or you might get a big fine."

Next

316: Negligently engaging in conduct relating to wastewater network that causes specified serious risk, or

"Causing big problems with wastewater networks by being careless is against the law"

Part 5Miscellaneous provisions
Offences: Offences relating to wastewater networks

315Engaging in conduct relating to wastewater network that causes specified serious risk

  1. A person commits an offence if they—

  2. engage in conduct relating to a wastewater network that causes a specified serious risk; and
    1. intentionally cause, or are reckless as to causing, that specified serious risk.

      1. A person who commits an offence against this section is liable on conviction,—

      2. for an individual, to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $75,000, or both:
        1. for a body corporate or an unincorporated body, to a fine not exceeding $1.5 million.

          Compare