California Code, Water Code - WAT § 71689.8

To the extent that the replenishment assessment after adjudication hereunder shifts from all producers to those who extract water in excess of their respective shares of the natural safe yield of the ground water supplies within the district as so adjudicated, such replenishment assessment shall be deemed to benefit those persons who continue to pump and extract ground water in excess of their adjudicated shares of the natural safe yield. Inasmuch as such persons must buy supplemental water or be in contempt of the court's order limiting their extraction of ground water, they shall be deemed to benefit by the payment of a replenishment assessment which is used to purchase water to supplement the natural supplies of ground water available for use.