ARTICLE 9.5. San Lorenzo Valley Water District [31143. - 31143.5.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 9.5.

in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 31143. Section 31143.

In addition to the other powers provided by law, the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, Santa Cruz County, shall have all of the following powers and shall promptly and effectively exercise such powers as may be appropriate to ensure that onsite waste water disposal systems, as defined in Section 6952 of the Health and Safety Code, along the San Lorenzo River do not pollute the river, its tributaries, and ground water: (a) To carry on technical and other investigations, examinations, or tests, of all kinds, make measurements, collect data, and make analyses, studies, and inspections pertaining to the water supply, use of water, water quality, nuisance, pollution, waste, and contamination of water within the district as such activities relate to the use of public, combined, or private onsite waste water disposal systems. (b) To require all persons discharging from onsite waste water disposal systems within the district to register the system with the district, and to charge annual registration fees in such amount as will defray all or a portion of the costs of exercising the powers provided in this article. Applications for permits for onsite waste water disposal systems within the district to the County of Santa Cruz shall be referred to the district for the district’s review and comment. (c) To adopt and enforce regulations for onsite waste water disposal systems within the district, after holding a public hearing on reasonable notice thereof, to control and enhance the quality of the ground and surface waters of the district, in order to eliminate the pollution, waste, and contamination of water flowing into, through, or originating within watercourses, both natural and artificial, within the district, to prevent contamination, nuisance, pollution, or otherwise rendering unfit for beneficial use the surface or ground water used or useful in the district, and to expend such amounts as are necessary to exercise such powers from the funds of the district. Such regulations shall not be in conflict with state law or county ordinances.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 31143.1. Section 31143.1.

The district shall immediately do all such acts as are reasonably necessary to secure compliance with any federal, state, regional, or local law, order, regulation, or rule relating to water pollution or discharges from onsite waste water disposal systems within the area of the district. For such purpose, any authorized representative of the district, upon presentation of his credentials, or, if necessary under the circumstances, after obtaining an inspection warrant pursuant to Title 13 (commencing with Section 1822.50) of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or with the permission of the owner, shall have the right of entry to any premises on which an onsite waste water disposal system is located for the purpose of inspecting such system, including securing samples of discharges therefrom, or any records required to be maintained in connection therewith by federal, state, or local law, order, regulation, or rule.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 31143.2. Section 31143.2.

(a) Violation of any of the provisions of a district regulation adopted pursuant to Section 31143 may be abated as a public nuisance by the district, and the board of directors may by regulation establish a procedure for the abatement of such a nuisance and to assess the cost of such abatement to the violator. If the violator maintains the nuisance upon real property in which he has a fee title interest, the assessment shall constitute a lien upon such real property. (b) The amount of any costs incurred by the district in abating such a nuisance upon real property shall be added to the annual taxes next levied upon the real property subject to abatement and shall constitute a lien upon that real property as of the same time and in the same manner as does the tax lien securing such annual taxes. All laws applicable to the levy, collection, and enforcement of district taxes shall be applicable to such assessment, except that if any real property to which such lien would attach has been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value, or if a lien of a bona fide encumbrancer for value has been created and attached thereon, prior to the date on which the first installment of such taxes would become delinquent, then a lien which would otherwise be imposed by this section shall not attach to such real property and the delinquent and unpaid charges relating to such property shall be transferred to the unsecured roll for collection. Any amounts of such assessments collected are to be credited to the funds of the district from which the costs of abatement were expended.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 31143.3. Section 31143.3.

(a) The owner of any real property upon which is located an onsite waste water disposal system, which system is subject to abatement as a public nuisance by the district, may request the district to replace or repair, as necessary, such system. If replacement or repair is feasible, the board of directors, in its sole discretion, may provide for the necessary replacement or repair work. (b) The person or persons employed by the board of directors to do the work shall have a lien, subject to the provisions of subdivision (b) of Section 31143.2, for work done and materials furnished, and the work done and materials furnished shall be deemed to have been done and furnished at the request of the owner. The district, in the discretion of the board of directors, may pay all, or any part, of the cost or price of the work done and materials furnished; and, to the extent that the district pays the cost or price of the work done and materials furnished, the district shall succeed to and have all the rights, including, but not limited to, the lien, of such person or persons employed to do the work against the real property and the owner. (c) As an alternative power to the enforcement of the lien provided in subdivision (b), the board of directors may, by ordinance adopted by two-thirds vote of the members, fix the costs of replacement or repair; fix the times at which such costs shall become due; provide prior to the replacement or repair for the payment of the costs in installments over a period not to exceed 15 years; establish a rate of interest not to exceed 8 percent per annum, to be charged on the unpaid balance of the costs; and provide that the amount of the costs and the interest shall constitute a lien, subject to the provisions of subdivision (b) of Section 31143.2, against the respective lots or parcels upon which the work is done. (d) With the written consent of the owner and the lienholder, if other than the district, the board of directors may issue an improvement bond pursuant to the improvement bond provisions of the Improvement Act of 1911 (Part 5 (commencing with Section 6400) of Division 7 of the Streets and Highways Code), to represent and be secured by the lien established pursuant to subdivision (b). The bond may be delivered to the lienholder if other than the district or may be sold by the board of directors at public or private sale. The amount of the bond shall be the amount of the lien, including incidental expenses allowable under the Improvement Act of 1911. The bond term and interest rate shall be determined by the board of directors within the limits established by the Improvement Act of 1911 and other applicable provisions of law.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 31143.4. Section 31143.4.

In order to avoid duplication, either the district or the County of Santa Cruz may contract with the other party for any services or activities authorized to be performed pursuant to this article.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 31143.5. Section 31143.5.

Any violation of a regulation of the district adopted pursuant to Section 31143 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisonment not to exceed 60 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day of such a violation shall constitute a separate offense. Any violation or threatened violation of a regulation of the district may also be enjoined by civil suit.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026