(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a district may acquire, control, distribute, store, spread, sink, treat, purify, recycle, recapture, and salvage any water, including sewage and storm waters, for the beneficial use or uses of the district, its inhabitants, or the owners of rights to water in the district.

(b) For a district located in a county with a population greater than 8 million persons and where 80 percent of the area of the district is included within the boundaries of a water replenishment district organized pursuant to Division 18 (commencing with Section 60000), the district shall have no authority to do any of the following:

Terms Used In California Water Code 71610

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • County: includes city and county. See California Water Code 14
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • water: includes potable water and nonpotable water. See California Water Code 71611

(1) Manage, control, or administer the importation of water for the storage of groundwater.

(2) Store water underground except pursuant to either of the following:

(A) A contract with an independent holder of adjudicated groundwater extraction rights within the boundaries of the district and for the account of the water rights holder.

(B) A court order issued by a court having jurisdiction over the adjudication of groundwater extraction rights within the groundwater basin where storage is sought.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 215, Sec. 1. (SB 1386) Effective January 1, 2013.)

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