Water Code section 22257

Each district shall establish equitable rules for the distribution and use of water, which shall be printed in convenient form for distribution in the district. A district may refuse to deliver water through a ditch which is not clean or not in suitable condition to prevent waste of water and may determine through which of two or more available ditches it will deliver water.
A district may close a defective gate in a community water distribution system used for irrigation purposes and may refuse to deliver water through the defective gate if the landowner fails to repair the gate or outlet to the satisfaction of the district within a reasonable time after receipt of notice from the board through its authorized water superintendent, manager or ditch tender to repair the gate or outlet. Rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section may include, with respect to land for which there is no existing system for the application of water for the irrigation thereof, the limitation of the use of water for irrigation furnished by the district to an overhead sprinkling system where such method of irrigation will conserve water and prevent excess seepage or the creation of drainage problems.

Source: Section 22257, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=WAT§ionNum=22257.­ (updated Jan. 1, 1953; accessed Dec. 29, 2025).

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Verified:
Dec. 29, 2025

§ 22257's source at ca​.gov