Section 9. A person who without lawful authority takes or diverts water from a water supply within the watershed system of the division, corrupts or defiles the water supply or a source of the water supply, injures, destroys or interferes with property held or used by the authority for the purpose of constructing, operating or maintaining the watershed system or who violates or refuses to comply with a rule, regulation or order of the department shall be punished by a criminal fine of not more than $50,000 or by imprisonment in state prison for not more than 5 years or in the house of correction for not more than 2 years or by both such fine and imprisonment. In cases of continuing violation, the maximum fine shall be $10,000 per day for each day the violation occurs or continues; provided, that a person convicted of the wanton or malicious destruction of or injury to property used in the construction, operation or maintenance of the watershed system shall also be liable in tort to the department for triple the amount of damages thereby caused. The fine or tort judgment shall be payable to the treasury of the commonwealth.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XIV - Public Ways and Works
Chapter 92a1/2 - Watershed Management
Section 2 - Division of Water Supply Protection
Section 4 - Hydroelectricity Authority
Section 5 - Discharge of Pollutants Prohibited
Section 6 - Environmental Protection Regulations
Section 7 - Taking or Improperly Using Water
Section 8 - Enforcement of Secs. 1 to 7
Section 9 - Punishment for Water Supply Tampering
Section 10 - Court Enforcement
Section 11 - Fiscal Year Operating Costs
Section 12 - Debt Service Costs
Section 13 - Quabbin Watershed Advisory Committee
Section 14 - Ware River Watershed Advisory Committee
Section 15 - Watershed Advisory Committee
Section 16 - Periodic Watershed Management Plans
Section 18 - Eligibility for Grants and Assistance