(a) A person who wilfully takes, diverts, or appropriates state water without complying with the applicable requirements of this chapter is also liable to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each day he continues the taking, diversion, or appropriation.
(a-1) Notwithstanding § 18.002, this section does not apply to a violation of:
(1) § 18.003 or a permit issued under that section; or
(2) § 18.004 or an authorization granted under that section.

Terms Used In Texas Water Code 11.082

  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005

(b) The state may recover the penalties prescribed in Subsection (a) by suit brought for that purpose in a court of competent jurisdiction. The state may seek those penalties regardless of whether a watermaster has been appointed for the water division, river basin, or segment of a river basin where the unlawful use is alleged to have occurred.
(c) An action to collect the penalty provided in this section must be brought within two years from the date of the alleged violation.

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