Tampering with a water supply
This law is about messing with a water supply on purpose. If someone poisons or pollutes a well, spring, brook, or reservoir that people use for drinking or city water, that is a felony crime. If someone blocks or redirects a stream or water source that people or a town was already using, that is a misdemeanor crime.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
577.150. with a water supply — . — 1. A person commits the of tampering with a water supply if he or she purposely:
(1) Poisons, , or in any way the water of a well, spring, brook, or reservoir used for domestic or ; or
(2) Diverts, dams up, and holds back from its natural course and flow any spring, brook, or other water supply for domestic or municipal purposes, after said water supply shall have once been taken for use by any person or persons, , town, or city for their use.
2. The offense of tampering with a water supply is a when the offense is a violation of (1) of 1 of this section and is a when the offense is a violation of subdivision (2) of subsection 1 of this section.
(RSMo 1939 § 4730, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491, A.L. 2025 H.B. 495)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 4340; 1919 § 3588; 1909 § 4796
, see § 1.1001
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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.