SECTIONS 75500-75508 - California Statutes

WATER CODE

SECTION 75500-75508

75500. Unless the context otherwise requires, the provisions of
this article shall govern the construction of this part.

75501. "Person" or "operator" means public agencies, federal,
state, and local, private corporations, firms, partnerships, limited
liability companies, individuals, or groups of individuals, whether
legally organized or not. "Owner" or "operator" also means the person
to whom a water-producing facility is assessed by the county
assessor of an affected county, or, if not separately assessed, the
person who owns the land upon which a water-producing facility is
located.

75502. "Ground water" means all water beneath the earth's surface,
but does not include water which is produced with oil in the
production of oil and gas, or in a bona fide mining operation, or
during construction operations, or from gravity or artesian springs.

75502.5. Notwithstanding Sections 75500 and 75502, for purposes of
the United Water Conservation District, "groundwater" means all water
beneath the earth's surface, but does not include water that is
produced with oil in the production of oil and gas, in a bona fide
mining operation, during construction operations, or from gravity or
natural springs. For the purpose of this section, "groundwater"
includes water produced from artesian wells.

75503. "Production" or "producing" means the act of extracting
ground water by pumping or otherwise.

75504. "Water-producing facility" means any device or method,
mechanical or otherwise, for the production of water from the ground
water supplies within the district.

75505. "Accumulated overdraft" means the amount of water necessary
to be replaced in the intake areas of the ground water basins within
the district or any zone or zones thereof to prevent the landward
movement of salt water into the fresh ground water body, or to
prevent subsidence of the land within the district or any zone or
zones thereof, as determined by the board from time to time.

75506. "Annual overdraft" means the amount, determined by the
board, by which the production of water from ground water supplies
within the district or any zone or zones thereof during the water
year exceeds the natural replenishment of such ground water supplies
in such water year.

75507. (a) "Water year" means July 1st of one calendar year to June
30th of the following calendar year.
(b) "Current water year" means the water year in which the
investigation and report on the ground water conditions of the
district is made, the hearing thereon held, and the determination is
made by the board as to whether a zone or zones should be established
and a ground water charge levied therein.
(c) "Preceding water year" means the water year immediately
preceding the current water year.
(d) "Ensuing water year" means the water year immediately
following the current water year.

75508. "Agricultural water" means water first used on lands in the
production of plant crops or livestock for market.