ARTICLE 4. Enforcement [1845. - 1848.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 4.

in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 1845. Section 1845.

(a) Upon the failure of any person to comply with a cease and desist order issued by the board pursuant to this chapter, the Attorney General, upon the request of the board, shall petition the superior court for the issuance of prohibitory or mandatory injunctive relief as appropriate, including a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction. (b) (1) A person or entity who violates a cease and desist order issued pursuant to this chapter may be liable in an amount not to exceed the following: (A) If the violation occurs in a critically dry year immediately preceded by two or more consecutive below normal, dry, or critically dry years or during a period for which the Governor has issued a proclamation of a state of emergency under the California Emergency Services Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 8550) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code) based on drought conditions, ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each day in which the violation occurs. (B) If the violation is not described by subparagraph (A), two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each day in which the violation occurs. (2) Civil liability may be imposed by the superior court. The Attorney General, upon the request of the board, shall petition the superior court to impose, assess, and recover those sums. (3) Civil liability may be imposed administratively by the board pursuant to Section 1055.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 1846. Section 1846.

(a) A person or entity may be liable for a violation of any of the following in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each day in which the violation occurs: (1) A term or condition of a permit, license, certificate, or registration issued under this division. (2) A regulation or order adopted by the board. (3) A condition or reporting requirement for the diversion of floodwaters for groundwater recharge under Section 1242.1. (b) For a violation described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) that constitutes the diversion of water contrary to a curtailment order adopted by the board, a person or entity may be liable in an amount not to exceed the following: (1) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each day in which the violation occurs. (2) Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each acre-foot of water diverted in violation of the curtailment order, beginning on the first day on which the violation occurs. (c) Civil liability may be imposed by the superior court. The Attorney General, upon the request of the board, shall petition the superior court to impose, assess, and recover those sums. (d) Civil liability may be imposed administratively by the board pursuant to Section 1055.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 1846.5. Section 1846.5.

(a) An urban retail water supplier who commits any of the violations identified in subdivision (b) may be liable in an amount not to exceed the following, as applicable: (1) If the violation occurs in a critically dry year immediately preceded by two or more consecutive below normal, dry, or critically dry years or during a period for which the Governor has issued a proclamation of a state of emergency under the California Emergency Services Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 8550) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code) based on drought conditions, ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each day in which the violation occurs. (2) For all violations other than those described in paragraph (1), one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each day in which the violation occurs. (b) Liability pursuant to this section may be imposed for any of the following violations: (1) Violation of an order issued under Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 10609) of Part 2.55 of Division 6. (2) Violation of a regulation issued under Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 10609) of Part 2.55 of Division 6, if the violation occurs after November 1, 2027. (c) Civil liability may be imposed by the superior court. The Attorney General, upon the request of the board, shall petition the superior court to impose, assess, and recover those sums. (d) Civil liability may be imposed administratively by the board pursuant to Section 1055.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 1847. Section 1847.

(a) A person or entity may be liable for a violation of any of the requirements of subdivision (b) in an amount not to exceed the sum of the following: (1) Five hundred dollars ($500), plus two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each additional day on which the violation continues if the person fails to correct the violation within 30 days after the board has called the violation to the attention of that person. (2) Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each acre-foot of water diverted or used in violation of the applicable requirement. (b) Liability may be imposed for any of the following violations: (1) Violation of a principle, guideline, or requirement established by the board or the Department of Fish and Wildlife under Section 13149. (2) Failure to submit information, or making a material misstatement in information submitted, under Section 26060.1 of the Business and Professions Code. (3) Violation of any requirement imposed under subdivision (b) of Section 26060.1 of the Business and Professions Code. (4) Diversion or use of water for cannabis cultivation for which a license is required, but has not been obtained, under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 26060) or Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 26070) of Division 10 of the Business and Professions Code. (c) Civil liability may be imposed by the superior court. The Attorney General, upon the request of the board, shall petition the superior court to impose, assess, and recover those sums. (d) Civil liability may be imposed administratively by the board pursuant to Section 1055.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 1848. Section 1848.

(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), remedies under this chapter are in addition to, and do not supersede or limit, any other remedy, civil or criminal. (b) Civil liability shall not be imposed both administratively and by the superior court for the same violation. (c) No liability shall be recoverable under Section 1846 or 1847 for a violation for which liability is recovered under Section 1052. (d) In determining the appropriate amount, the court, or the board, as the case may be, shall take into consideration all relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, the extent of harm caused by the violation, the nature and persistence of the violation, the length of time over which the violation occurs, and the corrective action, if any, taken by the violator. (e) All funds recovered pursuant to this article shall be deposited in the Water Rights Fund established pursuant to Section 1550.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026