Section 24 of the Water Act is the core prohibition against discharging pollutants into water bodies. It prohibits any person from knowingly causing or permitting poisonous, noxious, or polluting matter to enter any stream, well, sewer, or land. Discharging untreated industrial waste into a river directly violates this section. Section 24 is one of the most frequently invoked provisions in environmental litigation against industrial polluters.

1. 1 Pick up Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
2. 2 Check Section 23 → not about discharge of waste.
3. 3 Check Section 24 → 'Prohibition on use of stream or well for disposal of polluting matter.' ✓ Directly matches: company discharging untreated waste into river.
4. 4 No need to check Section 40.

The text reads: Section 24 Water Act: No person shall knowingly cause or permit any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter to enter into any stream or well.