87.03.015 - Certain powers of district enumerated.

Certain powers of district enumerated.

Any irrigation district, operating and maintaining an irrigation system, in addition to other powers conferred by law, shall have authority:

     (1) To purchase and sell electric power to the inhabitants of the irrigation district for the purposes of irrigation and domestic use, to acquire, construct, and lease dams, canals, plants, transmission lines, and other power equipment and the necessary property and rights therefor and to operate, improve, repair, and maintain the same, for the generation and transmission of electrical energy for use in the operation of pumping plants and irrigation systems of the district and for sale to the inhabitants of the irrigation district for the purposes of irrigation and domestic use; and, as a further and separate grant of authority and in furtherance of a state purpose and policy of developing hydroelectric capability in connection with irrigation facilities, to construct, finance, acquire, own, operate, and maintain, alone or jointly with other irrigation districts, boards of control, other municipal or quasi-municipal corporations or cooperatives authorized to engage in the business of distributing electricity, or electrical companies subject to the jurisdiction of the utilities and transportation commission, hydroelectric facilities including but not limited to dams, canals, plants, transmission lines, other power equipment, and the necessary property and rights therefor, located within or outside the district, for the purpose of utilizing for the generation of electricity, water power made available by and as a part of the irrigation water storage, conveyance, and distribution facilities, waste ways, and drainage water facilities which serve irrigation districts, and to sell any and all the electric energy generated at any such hydroelectric facilities or the irrigation district's share of such energy, to municipal or quasi-municipal corporations and cooperatives authorized to engage in the business of distributing electricity, and electrical companies subject to the jurisdiction of the utilities and transportation commission, or to other irrigation districts, and on such terms and conditions as the board of directors shall determine, and to enter into contracts with other irrigation districts, boards of control, other municipal or quasi-municipal corporations and cooperatives authorized to engage in the business of distributing electricity, and electrical companies subject to the jurisdiction of the utilities and transportation commission: PROVIDED, That no contract entered into by the board of directors of any irrigation district for the sale of electrical energy from such hydroelectric facility for a period longer than forty years from the date of commercial operation of such hydroelectric facility shall be binding on the district until ratified by a majority vote of the electors of the district at an election therein, called, held and canvassed for that purpose in the same manner as that provided by law for district bond elections.

     (2) To construct, repair, purchase, maintain or lease a system for the sale or lease of water to the owners of irrigated lands within the district for domestic purposes.

     (3) To construct, repair, purchase, lease, acquire, operate and maintain a system of drains, sanitary sewers, and sewage disposal or treatment plants as herein provided.

     (4) To assume, as principal or guarantor, any indebtedness to the United States under the federal reclamation laws, on account of district lands.

     (5) To maintain, repair, construct and reconstruct ditches, laterals, pipe lines and other water conduits used or to be used in carrying water for irrigation of lands located within the boundaries of a city or town or for the domestic use of the residents of a city or town where the owners of land within such city or town shall use such works to carry water to the boundaries of such city or town for irrigation, domestic or other purposes within such city or town, and to charge to such city or town the pro rata proportion of the cost of such maintenance, repair, construction and reconstruction work in proportion to the benefits received by the lands served and located within the boundaries of such city or town, and if such cost is not paid, then and in that event said irrigation district shall have the right to prevent further water deliveries through such works to the lands located within the boundaries of such city or town until such charges have been paid.

     (6) To acquire, install and maintain as a part of the irrigation district's water system the necessary water mains and fire hydrants to make water available for firefighting purposes; and in addition any such irrigation district shall have the authority to repair, operate and maintain such hydrants and mains.

     (7) To enter into contracts with other irrigation districts, boards of control, municipal or quasi-municipal corporations and cooperatives authorized to engage in the business of distributing electricity, and electrical companies subject to the jurisdiction of the utilities and transportation commission to jointly acquire, construct, own, operate, and maintain irrigation water, domestic water, drainage and sewerage works, and electrical power works to the same extent as authorized by subsection (1) of this section, or portions of such works.

     (8) To acquire from a water-sewer district wholly within the irrigation district's boundaries, by a conveyance without cost, the water-sewer district's water system and to operate the same to provide water for the domestic use of the irrigation district residents. As a part of its acceptance of the conveyance the irrigation district must agree to relieve the water-sewer district of responsibility for maintenance and repair of the system. Any such water-sewer district is authorized to make such a conveyance if all indebtedness of the water-sewer district, except local improvement district bonds, has been paid and the conveyance has been approved by a majority of the water-sewer district's voters voting at a general or special election.

     This section shall not be construed as in any manner abridging any other powers of an irrigation district conferred by law.

[1999 c 153 § 74; 1979 ex.s. c 185 § 2; 1967 c 206 § 1; 1965 c 141 § 1; 1943 c 57 § 1; 1941 c 143 § 1; 1933 c 31 § 1; 1923 c 138 § 2, part; RRS § 7417-2. Formerly RCW 87.01.210, part.]

Notes: Part headings not law -- 1999 c 153: See note following RCW 57.04.050.

Effective date -- Severability -- 1979 ex.s. c 185: See notes following RCW 87.03.013.

District bond elections: RCW 87.03.200.

Heating systems authorized: RCW 35.97.020.

Prerequisite to furnishing water or power outside of district: RCW 87.03.115.