Unless otherwise stated, in this part “board” means the board of supervisors of the principal county.

As used in this part, “petition” means a petition for the formation of a district.

As used in this part, “election” means an election on the proposition of the formation of a district.

The holders of title to a majority in area of land which is capable of using water beneficially for irrigation, domestic, industrial or municipal purposes and which can be serviced from common sources of supply and by the same system of works, may petition for the formation of a district.

The area need not be contiguous if:

When a district is proposed to be formed from noncontiguous areas, the petition shall be signed by the holders of title of a majority of the assessed value of land within each of the noncontiguous areas proposed to be included within the district.

The petition shall be presented to the board of the principal county.

The petition shall be presented at a regular meeting of the board.

The records of the United States land office for the district in which the land is located, the records of the State Lands Commission, and the records in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the land is situated are conclusive evidence of ownership of land for the purposes of this article.

The proposed district may include land situated in other distinctive district agencies of the State, including other water districts organized under the provisions of this division having different plans and purposes and the object of which is not the same. The organization of any district prior to the enactment of this section and which included lands in one or more distinctive district agencies of the State, including other water districts organized under the provisions of this division having different plans and purposes and the object of which is not the same, is hereby ratified and confirmed.