California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 5412.5

(a) Any person who, without regard to intent or negligence, causes or permits any sewage or other waste, or the effluent of treated sewage or other waste to be discharged in or on any waters of the state, or discharged in or deposited where it is, or probably will be, discharged in or on any waters of the state that may cause contamination of waters used for a water-contact sport, as defined in Section 24155, shall reimburse the local health officer or the director of environmental health for the necessary and actual costs incurred to mitigate the threat of contamination and to protect the health and safety of the public.

(b) The governing body of the county shall establish the amount of payment at a level sufficient to pay the necessary and reasonable costs incurred by the local health officer or environmental health director administering this section and Section 5411.5.

(c) For the purposes of this section “mitigate” includes, but is not limited to, actions taken by the local health officer or the director of environmental health in the affected tributaries and waters used for a water-contact sport to investigate the waste discharge, to collect and analyze water samples to determine the areas of contamination, to close or restrict use, to post closure signs, and to notify the public of closures or restrictions.

(d) This section shall not apply to discharge authorized by law and in compliance with waste discharge requirements or other requirements established by the appropriate regional water quality control board or the State Water Resources Control Board.