Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Water Services Act 2021

Standards, enforcement, and other matters - Offences - Offences relating to supply of unsafe drinking water

173: Offence involving contamination of raw water or drinking water

You could also call this:

"Polluting water on purpose is against the law"

Illustration for Water Services Act 2021

You can commit an offence if you do something that is likely to contaminate raw water or drinking water. You must know that your action will contaminate the water, or not care about the consequences of your action. If you are found guilty, you could go to prison for up to 5 years, or get a fine of up to $600,000, or both.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS494548.

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Topics:
Environment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Water safetyCrime and justice > Criminal lawCrime and justice > Police and safety
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172: Offence involving negligence in supply of unsafe drinking water, or

"Breaking the law by giving people unsafe drinking water on purpose or by being careless"

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174: Offence involving recklessness in failure to take immediate action when drinking water unsafe, or

"Breaking the law by not keeping drinking water safe when you know it's unsafe"

Part 3Standards, enforcement, and other matters
Offences: Offences relating to supply of unsafe drinking water

173Offence involving contamination of raw water or drinking water

  1. A person commits an offence against this section if the person does any act likely to contaminate any raw water or drinking water, knowing that the act is likely to contaminate that water, or being reckless as to the consequences of that act.

  2. A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or to a fine not exceeding $600,000, or both.

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