ORS 545.487 Pressurization charge; application to certain lands; apportionment

An irrigation district that charges for water delivery in the district under the provisions of ORS 545.482 may charge a pressurization charge, in addition to the regular charge. The pressurization charge may be charged against the lands that have appurtenant water rights and to which irrigation water is furnished or is available for delivery by pipe and under pressure. However, a pressurization charge may not be charged unless delivery of water by pipe and under pressure to these lands requires operation, construction and maintenance costs greater than the operation, construction and maintenance costs involved in delivering water to the nonpiped and nonpressurized lands in the district.

The board may apportion a pressurization charge allowed under subsection (1) of this section to the water users of the lands served by pipe and pressurized water so that each acre of irrigable land in the district that has piped and pressurized water to it shall be required to pay the same per acre pressurization service charge.