14450-14452
CORPORATIONS CODE
SECTION 14450-14452
14450. No corporation formed to supply any city, city and county, or town with water shall do so unless previously authorized by an ordinance of the authorities thereof, or unless it is done in conformity with a contract entered into between the city, city and county, or town and the corporation. Contracts so made are valid and binding in law, but do not take from the city, city and county, or town the right to regulate the rates for water, nor shall any exclusive right be granted. No contract or grant shall be made for a term exceeding 50 years. 14451. (a) All corporations formed to supply water to cities or towns shall furnish pure freshwater to the inhabitants thereof, for domestic uses, as long as the supply permits, at reasonable rates and without distinction of persons, upon proper demand therefor, and shall furnish water to the extent of their means, in case of fire or other great necessity, free of charge. The board of supervisors, or the proper city or town authorities, may prescribe proper rules relating to the delivery of water, not inconsistent with the laws of the state. (b) (1) A corporation formed to supply water to cities or towns shall not charge, levy, assess, fix, or collect any charge, tax, fee, rate, assessment, or levy of any kind whatsoever in connection with its water system on or from any entity providing fire protection services to others for supplying water for those fire protection purposes within the service area of the corporation or for any costs of operation, installation, capital, maintenance, repair, alteration, or replacement of facilities related to supplying water for the fire protection purposes within the service area of the corporation, except pursuant to a written agreement with the entity providing fire protection services. (2) Paragraph (1) of this subdivision does not restrict or limit a corporation formed to supply water to cities or towns from levying charges for water service or facilities, including water for fire protection purposes, on any person, property, or entity, whether public or private, other than on an entity providing fire protection service. These charges shall be collected from other persons, property, or entities pursuant to existing provisions of law that authorize the charges, or from an entity providing fire protection services only pursuant to the written agreement authorizing the charges. (3) For the purposes of this subdivision, "entity providing fire protection service" means a city, county, or city and county, whether general law or chartered, or a fire company, fire protection district, or any other person, association, company, corporation, district, municipal corporation, or any other public or private entity, which public or private entity or person provides fire protection services to any other public or private entity or person. 14452. Whenever any corporation, organized under the laws of this state, furnishes water to irrigate lands that the corporation has sold, the right to the flow and use of that water is and shall remain a perpetual easement to the land so sold, at any rates and terms that may be established by the corporation in pursuance of law. Whenever any person who is cultivating land on the line and within the flow of any ditch owned by the corporation, has been furnished water by it with which to irrigate his or her land, that person shall be entitled to the continued use of that water, upon the same terms as those who have purchased their land from the corporation.