717. Pouring and Drawing Water

Shabbos 15:10

One is permitted on Shabbos to pour waste water from a window onto a trash heap ten handbreadths high (about 30”) that is located in a public domain. This refers to a trash heap that belongs to the community because such a thing is not likely to be removed. One may not pour water onto a privately-owned trash heap on Shabbos because it is possible that the heap may have been removed and one will end up pouring water into the public domain.

Shabbos 15:11

If a channel of water ten handbreadths deep and from four handbreadths to ten cubits wide (12”-15’) passes through a courtyard, we may not draw water from it on Shabbos unless one erects a partition ten handbreadths high where it enters and exits the courtyard. If its dimensions are smaller than ten handbreadths deep or four handbreadths wide, water may be drawn from it without partitions.