The board of directors of the district shall have the power, in addition to, and as an alternative to, the powers enumerated elsewhere in this division, to levy and collect ground water charges for the production of water from the ground water supply within the district which will benefit from the recharge of underground water supplies or the distribution of imported water in the district, such power to be exercised in the same manner and the proceeds therefrom to be used for the same purposes as the Kern County Water Agency may levy, collect and use such charges pursuant to Sections 14.21 to 14.37, inclusive, of the Kern County Water Agency Act. Whenever the district exercises any of the powers conferred on it by this section, the following definitions shall be applicable in construing Sections 14.21 to 14.37, inclusive, of the Kern County Water Agency Act: