Tampering with public water systems

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, or both. 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, or both. The Administrator may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court (as determined under the provisions of title 28) 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. to introduce a contaminant into a public water system with the intention of harming persons; or to otherwise interfere with the operation of a public water system with the intention of harming persons. For purposes of this section, the term “tamper” means— (Source: (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.))