2025 Texas Statutes
Water Code
Title 2 - Water Administration
Subtitle A - Executive Agencies
Chapter 7 - Enforcement
Subchapter E. Criminal Offenses and Penalties
Section 7.147. Unauthorized Discharge
Sec. 7.147. UNAUTHORIZED DISCHARGE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person discharges or allows the discharge of any waste or pollutant into any water in the state that causes or threatens to cause water pollution unless the waste or pollutant:
(1) is discharged in strict compliance with all required permits or with a valid and currently effective order issued or rule adopted by the appropriate regulatory agency; or
(2) consists of used oil and the concentration of used oil in the waste stream resulting from the discharge as it enters water in the state is less than 15 parts per million following the discharge and the person is authorized to discharge storm water under a general permit issued under Section 26.040.
(b) An offense under this section may be prosecuted without alleging or proving any culpable mental state.
(c) An offense under this section is punishable for an individual under Section 7.187(1)(B) or Section 7.187(2)(D) or both.
(d) An offense under this section is punishable for a person other than an individual under Section 7.187(1)(C).
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1072, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 366 (S.B. 1297), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
