§ 1242 Underground Water Storage Use

Water Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says that storing water underground is a good use of water if you later use that water for something helpful, like farming or drinking.

Key Takeaways

•Storing water underground is okay if you use it later for something useful.
•You can’t just store water and leave it there—you have to use it for a good reason.
•This applies to things like diverting streams or letting water flow onto land to store it.

Example

A farmer digs a big hole to store rainwater underground during the wet season.

If the farmer later uses that stored water to grow crops, this law says that’s a good and allowed use of the water.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 1242 Underground Water Storage Use

The storing of water underground, including the diversion of streams and the flowing of water on lands necessary to the accomplishment of such storage, constitutes a beneficial use of water if the water so stored is thereafter applied to the beneficial purposes for which the appropriation for storage was made. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 368.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

beneficial use of water storing of water underground diversion of streams appropriation for storage

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Water Code. Section 1242.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References