2009 California Water Code - Section 1485 :: Article 6. Applications By Governmental Agencies Discharging Disposal Water

1485.  Any municipality, governmental agency, or political
subdivision operating waste disposal plants producing disposal water
meeting the requirements of the appropriate regional board, and
disposing of said water in the San Joaquin River may file an
application for a permit to appropriate an equal amount of water,
less diminution by seepage, evaporation, transpiration or other
natural causes between the point of discharge and the point of
recovery, downstream from said disposal plant and out of the San
Joaquin River or the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. A permit to
appropriate such amount of water may be granted by the board upon
such terms and conditions as in the board's judgment are necessary
for the protection of the rights of others. Water so appropriated may
be sold or utilized for any beneficial purpose. The right to the use
of water granted by this section shall not include water flowing in
underground streams.
   The Legislature finds and declares that the problems incident to
the full utilization of the waters of the San Joaquin River and the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta into which it flows, are unique and that
a general law cannot be made applicable thereto.