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HomeWater CodeDiv. 1Ch. 7Art. 2§ 475 Voluntary Water Transfer Rules

§ 475 Voluntary Water Transfer Rules

Water Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 475 Voluntary Water Transfer Rules

Key Takeaways

  • •People can sell or share extra water they don’t need with others who do need it.
  • •Sharing extra water helps save money, energy, and prevents shortages.
  • •The state helps make sure water sharing is fair and doesn’t hurt others who depend on that water.

Example

A farmer has extra water from a river but doesn’t need it all for his crops. Another farmer nearby is running out of water for his fields.

The first farmer can sell or share his extra water with the second farmer. The state helps make sure this deal is fair and doesn’t dry up the river for others who also use it.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 475 Voluntary Water Transfer Rules

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that voluntary water transfers between water users can result in a more efficient use of water, benefiting both the buyer and the seller. The Legislature further finds and declares that transfers of surplus water on an intermittent basis can help alleviate water shortages, save capital outlay development costs, and conserve water and energy. The Legislature further finds and declares that it is in the public interest to conserve all available water resources, and that this interest requires the coordinated assistance of state agencies for voluntary water transfers to allow more intensive use of developed water resources in a manner that fully protects the interests of other entities which have rights to, or rely on, the water covered by a proposed transfer. (Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 970, Sec. 1.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

voluntary water transferssurplus waterpublic interestconserve water resourcesstate agencies

Related Statutes

  • § 11626 Public Utility Contract Preferences
  • § 11650 State Water And Power Contracts
  • § 11651 State Agency Water Payments
  • § 11652 State Agency Tax Levy
  • § 11653 State Tax Collection Enforcement

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Water Code. Section 475.
View Official Source