A special assessment imposed by a district, with accrued interest and penalties, is a lien upon the property on which the assessment is levied from the time the assessment list is approved by the district board until the assessment is fully paid. The liens have precedence over all other liens except general tax liens and may not be divested by any judicial sale. Mistake in the description of the property covered by the special assessment lien or in the name of the owner of such property does not defeat the lien if the assessed property can be identified by the description in the assessment list. This chapter must be considered notice to all subsequent encumbrances of the priority of special assessments imposed under this chapter.