---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300i–1"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300i–1"
heading: "Tampering with public water systems"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300i-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XII — Safety of Public Water Systems"
  - "Part D — Emergency Powers"
---

# §300i–1. Tampering with public water systems

- (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](/usc/18.md), 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](/usc/18.md), or both.
- (c) **Civil penalty—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court (as determined under the provisions of [title 28](/usc/28.md)) 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.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XIV, § 1432, as added Pub. L. 99–339, title I, § 108, June 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 651; amended Pub. L. 104–182, title V, § 501(f)(5), Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1692; Pub. L. 107–188, title IV, § 403(3), June 12, 2002, 116 Stat. 687.)

## Notes

### 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.