Sec. 341.048. CIVIL ENFORCEMENT. (a) A person may not cause, suffer, allow, or permit a violation of this subchapter or a rule or order adopted under this subchapter.
(b) A person who causes, suffers, allows, or permits a violation under this subchapter shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than $50 and not more than $5,000 for each violation. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate violation.
(c) If it appears that a person has violated, is violating, or threatens to violate a provision under this subchapter, the commission, a county, or a municipality may institute a civil suit in a district court for:
(1) injunctive relief to restrain the person from continuing the violation or threat of violation;
(2) the assessment and recovery of a civil penalty; or
(3) both injunctive relief and a civil penalty.
(d) The commission is a necessary and indispensable party in a suit brought by a county or municipality under this section.
(e) On the commission's request, the attorney general shall institute a suit in the name of the state for injunctive relief, to recover a civil penalty, or for both injunctive relief and civil penalty.
(f) The suit may be brought in:
(1) Travis County;
(2) the county in which the defendant resides; or
(3) the county in which the violation or threat of violation occurs.
(g) In a suit under this section to enjoin a violation or threat of violation of this subchapter, the court shall grant the state, county, or municipality, without bond or other undertaking, any injunction that the facts may warrant including temporary restraining orders, temporary injunctions after notice and hearing, and permanent injunctions.
(h) Civil penalties recovered in a suit brought under this section by a county or municipality shall be equally divided between:
(1) the state; and
(2) the county or municipality that first brought the suit.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 353, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1010, Sec. 6.22, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Amended by:
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 519 (S.B. 530), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 5 - Sanitation and Environmental Quality
Chapter 341 - Minimum Standards of Sanitation and Health Protection Measures
Section 341.031. Public Drinking Water
Section 341.0315. Public Drinking Water Supply System Requirements
Section 341.0316. Desalination of Marine Seawater for Drinking Water
Section 341.032. Drinking Water Provided by Common Carrier
Section 341.033. Protection of Public Water Supplies
Section 341.035. Approved Plans Required for Public Water Supplies
Section 341.0351. Notification of System Changes
Section 341.0352. Advertised Quality of Water Supply
Section 341.0353. Drinking Water Supply Comparative Rating Information
Section 341.0354. Highway Signs for Approved System Rating
Section 341.0355. Financial Assurance for Certain Systems
Section 341.0356. Order to Stop Operations
Section 341.0358. Public Safety Standards
Section 341.03585. Fire Hydrant Flow and Pressure Standards in Certain Municipalities
Section 341.0359. Fire Hydrant Flow Standards
Section 341.036. Sanitary Defects at Public Drinking Water Supply Systems
Section 341.037. Protection of Bodies of Water From Sewage
Section 341.038. Protection of Impounded Water From Disease-Bearing Mosquitoes
Section 341.039. Standards for Graywater and Alternative Onsite Water
Section 341.0391. Direct Potable Reuse Guidance
Section 341.042. Standards for Harvested Rainwater
Section 341.046. Nonapplicability of Subchapter F
Section 341.047. Criminal Penalty
Section 341.048. Civil Enforcement
Section 341.0485. Water Utility Improvement Account