LOUISVILLE — State wildlife officials will begin enforcing laws prohibiting houseboat owners from dumping raw sewage into Kentucky lakes and rivers.

        Dumping sewage has been illegal for a decade, but the state agency that had enforcement responsibility did not have the authority to board and inspect boats for discharges unless officers observed another infraction.

        As a result, there was no check on houseboat sewage disposal. “Nobody wants to be the potty police,” said Steve Riggs, a flotilla commander with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, which is trying to increase awareness of houseboat sewage regulations.

        Anyone found releasing sewage from boats into Kentucky waterways can be fined from $15 to $100 for a first offense. The maximum penalty is $500 for repeat offenders.

        Dennis Martin, owner of Walnut Creek Marina on Barren River Lake, said most houseboat owners realize that clean water is an important asset and are taking steps to comply with the no-dumping rule. “Everybody knew it was coming, so it wasn't a shock,” he said.

        For years, the Kentucky Divi sion of Water and the Department for Health Services have posted advisories warning swimmers to avoid portions of the upper Cumberland River, the North Fork of the Kentucky River and the Licking River because of high levels of fecal coliform bacteria.

        Conservation officers from the state Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, which took over the duties of the former state Water Patrol, will be responsible for enforcement of the dumping ban. Unlike the Water Patrol, Fish and Wildlife officers have the authority to conduct spontaneous boat inspections.

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