A district has the same powers with reference to improvement districts as are conferred upon irrigation districts by Division 11, Part 7 of the Water Code and as are conferred upon municipal water districts by Part 7 (commencing with Section 71851) and Part 8 (commencing with Section 72000) of Division 20 of the Water Code. As used in this section, all references to districts in the adopted acts shall refer to public utility districts and all words relating to irrigation or municipal water district officers and matters refer to the corresponding officers of a public utility district and matters under this division.