Policy - - CA Water

Section § 13000

This law highlights the importance of protecting and managing California's water resources. It emphasizes that the quality of water should be maintained for public use and enjoyment. Activities that impact water quality should be regulated to achieve the best quality possible, considering economic and social factors. The law mandates a statewide program to oversee water quality while allowing for regional management. It recognizes that various factors like climate, geography, and economic activities differ across regions, requiring a coordinated approach to water management.

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.

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(Repealed and added by Stats. 1969, Ch. 482.)

Section § 13001

This law section expresses the intention that the state board and regional boards are the main agencies in charge of coordinating and controlling water quality in California. These boards are required to follow the policies outlined in the law while working together to ensure a unified and effective water quality control program throughout the state.

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.

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(Repealed and added by Stats. 1969, Ch. 482.)

Section § 13002

This law states that nothing in this division or any ruling by state or regional boards restricts the ability of cities, counties, and the state to enforce additional regulations on waste disposal or activities that may pollute state waters. Cities and counties can also address nuisances, and the Attorney General can take legal action against pollution. State agencies are still able to enforce other laws, and individuals can take action against private nuisances or pollution.

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.

waste disposal regulations city and county powers pollution control nuisance abatement Attorney General action state agency enforcement private nuisance relief water quality protection additional regulations state waters pollution legal action against pollution regional board requests state board rulings environmental enforcement civil code nuisances

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1969, Ch. 482.)