Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

Miscellaneous provisions - Offences - Offences relating to stormwater network

320: Negligently disposing of or discharging materials or substances into stormwater network causing specified serious risk

You could also call this:

"Don't carelessly put bad things into stormwater drains or you might get a big fine."

Illustration for Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

If you dispose of or discharge materials or substances into a stormwater network in a careless way and this causes a serious risk, you commit an offence. You can be fined if you are found guilty of this offence. For individuals, the fine can be up to $50,000, and for companies or other groups, the fine can be up to $500,000, as stated in the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025, which can be found through a link to related legislation, such as the s 412 of a previous act.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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=LMS1006767.

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

319: Disposing of or discharging materials or substances into stormwater network causing specified serious risk, or

"Don't put harmful things into stormwater drains if it can hurt people or the environment, or you might get a big fine."

Next

321: Engaging in conduct relating to stormwater network that causes specified serious risk, or

"Don't put people or the environment at risk with stormwater systems or you could get in trouble."

Part 5Miscellaneous provisions
Offences: Offences relating to stormwater network

320Negligently disposing of or discharging materials or substances into stormwater network causing specified serious risk

  1. A person commits an offence if they negligently dispose of or discharge materials or substances into a stormwater network and the disposal or discharge causes a specified serious risk.

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

  3. for an individual, to a fine not exceeding $50,000:
    1. for a body corporate or an unincorporated body, to a fine not exceeding $500,000.

      Compare