2007 California Water Code Chapter 1. Policy

CA Codes (wat:13000-13002)

13000.  The Legislature finds and declares that the people of the
state have a primary interest in the conservation, control, and
utilization of the water resources of the state, and that the quality
of all the waters of the state shall be protected for use and
enjoyment by the people of the state.
   The Legislature further finds and declares that activities and
factors which may affect the quality of the waters of the state shall
be regulated to attain the highest water quality which is
reasonable, considering all demands being made and to be made on
those waters and the total values involved, beneficial and
detrimental, economic and social, tangible and intangible.
   The Legislature further finds and declares that the health, safety
and welfare of the people of the state requires that there be a
statewide program for the control of the quality of all the waters of
the state; that the state must be prepared to exercise its full
power and jurisdiction to protect the quality of waters in the state
from degradation originating inside or outside the boundaries of the
state; that the waters of the state are increasingly influenced by
interbasin water development projects and other statewide
considerations; that factors of precipitation, topography,
population, recreation, agriculture, industry and economic
development vary from region to region within the state; and that the
statewide program for water quality control can be most effectively
administered regionally, within a framework of statewide coordination
and policy.



13001.  It is the intent of the Legislature that the state board and
each regional board shall be the principal state agencies with
primary responsibility for the coordination and control of water
quality.  The state board and regional boards in exercising any power
granted in this division shall conform to and implement the policies
of this chapter and shall, at all times, coordinate their respective
activities so as to achieve a unified and effective water quality
control program in this state.



13002.  No provision of this division or any ruling of the state
board or a regional board is a limitation:
   (a) On the power of a city or county or city and county to adopt
and enforce additional regulations, not in conflict therewith,
imposing further conditions, restrictions, or limitations with
respect to the disposal of waste or any other activity which might
degrade the quality of the waters of the state.
   (b) On the power of any city or county or city and county to
declare, prohibit, and abate nuisances.
   (c) On the power of the Attorney General, at the request of a
regional board, the state board, or upon his own motion, to bring an
action in the name of the people of the State of California to enjoin
any pollution or nuisance.
   (d) On the power of a state agency in the enforcement or
administration of any provision of law which it is specifically
permitted or required to enforce or administer.
   (e) On the right of any person to maintain at any time any
appropriate action for relief against any private nuisance as defined
in the Civil Code or for relief against any contamination or
pollution.