California Code, Water Code - WAT § 55109

Upon the request of 25 or more freeholders, or a majority of the freeholders, if less than 50 in number, needing water service within a given area, the board of supervisors may instruct any county officer to prepare a report recommending means of providing such service, including a plan for financing, constructing, operating and maintaining facilities essential to such service and a petition for the formation of or annexation to a district, and to prepare improvement petitions, including maps, preliminary estimates, legal descriptions, and all things necessary for the completion of the petition.

The board of supervisors may instruct any qualified county officer or may engage a qualified person, firm or corporation to prepare groundwater studies and reports, plans and estimates for water systems and engineering feasibility reports for water systems, reservoirs, conduits, treatment plants, conservation and reuse of water.