Whenever the department determines that any public water system is unable or unwilling to adequately serve its users, has been actually or effectively abandoned by its owners, or is unresponsive to the rules or orders of the department, the department may petition the superior court for the county within which the system has its principal office or place of business for the appointment of a receiver to assume possession of its property and to operate its system upon such terms and conditions as the court shall prescribe. The court may require, as a condition to the appointment of the receiver, that a sufficient bond be given by the receiver and be conditioned upon compliance with the orders of the court and the department, and the protection of all property rights involved. The court may provide, as a condition of its order, that the receiver appointed pursuant to the order shall not be held personally liable for any good faith, reasonable effort to assume possession of, and to operate, the system in compliance with the order.

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1996.)