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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§300i–1 Tampering with Public Water Systems

Title 42 › CHAPTER 6A — PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER XII — SAFETY OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS › Part D — Emergency Powers › § 300i–1

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Tampering with a public water system is a crime. If someone contaminates or damages a public water system on purpose, they can go to prison for up to 20 years, be fined under federal law, or both. Trying to tamper or threatening to do so can bring up to 10 years in prison, a federal fine, or both. The Administrator can sue in federal court and the court may order civil penalties up to $1,000,000 for tampering and up to $100,000 for an attempt or threat. "Tamper" means either putting a harmful contaminant into a public water system on purpose or otherwise interfering with how the system works on purpose to harm people.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §300i–1

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Tampering
Any person who tampers with a public water system shall be imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or fined in accordance with title 18, or both.
(b)Attempt or threat
Any person who attempts to tamper, or makes a threat to tamper, with a public drinking water system be imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or fined in accordance with title 18, or both.
(c)Civil penalty
The Administrator may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court (as determined under the provisions of title 28) against any person who tampers, attempts to tamper, or makes a threat to tamper with a public water system. The court may impose on such person a civil penalty of not more than $1,000,000 for such tampering or not more than $100,000 for such attempt or threat.
(d)“Tamper” defined
For purposes of this section, the term “tamper” means—
(1)to introduce a contaminant into a public water system with the intention of harming persons; or
(2)to otherwise interfere with the operation of a public water system with the intention of harming persons.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–188, § 403(3)(A), substituted “20 years” for “5 years”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–188, § 403(3)(B), substituted “10 years” for “3 years”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–188, § 403(3)(C), (D), substituted “$1,000,000” for “$50,000” and “$100,000” for “$20,000”. 1996—Pub. L. 104–182 made technical amendment to section catchline and subsec. (a) designation.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 300i–1

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110