Sec. 56.141. OUTSIDE DRAINS

(a) Before a person artificially drains adjacent land located outside the district into the canals, drains, or ditches of the district, the person must submit a written application to the board, and the board must grant permission to make the connections. The application shall include the width, depth, and length of the connecting drains and ditches.

(b) When the application is filed with the board, the engineer shall estimate the quantity of water which the connecting drains or ditches would probably empty into the established canals or drains and shall indicate whether or not the established canals or drains have sufficient capacity to carry the excess water without risk or damage to the canals, drains, or adjacent territory. The engineer shall report to the board the result of his examination and his estimate.

(c) Unless an agreement is reached with the applicants, the board may authorize the connection on condition that the applicant first pay to the construction and maintenance fund an amount of money which bears the same ratio to the cost of the original canal or drain from the point of connection to its outlet as the water to be emptied into the canal or drain by the connecting drains bears to the water then flowing into and being carried by the original canal or drain as estimated by the engineer.

Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 513, ch. 58, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1971. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 222, Sec. 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.