Unless the context otherwise requires the provisions of this chapter shall govern the construction of this division.

The definition of a word applies to any of its variants.

“Include” except when used in relation to the inclusion of land into a district does not necessarily exclude matters not enumerated.

“District” except as otherwise provided means a water district formed pursuant to the California Water District Act or to this division.

“Land” means the solid material of the earth whatever may be the ingredients of which it is composed, whether soil, rock, or other substance, but there shall not be included in the meaning of land improvements thereon or rights and privileges appertaining to minerals, oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon substances underlying the surface thereof.

“Principal county” means the county in which the greatest portion of the area of the land is situated at the time of the filing of the petition for formation of the district or to which district records are transferred pursuant to Chapter 6 of Part 2.

“Affected county” means any county in which land is situated.

“Office” means the office for the district selected by the board.

Except as otherwise provided, “board” means the board of directors of a district.

“Elective officers,” irrespective of the method of selection in any instance, (1) are the members of the board and (2) may be an assessor and a tax collector.

“President” means the president of the board.

“Secretary” means the secretary of the district.

“Assessor” means the assessor of the district.

“Collector” means the tax collector of the district.

“Treasurer” means the treasurer of the district.

“General district election” means the district election required to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each odd-numbered year.

“Holder of title” shall mean the owner of record of the fee title to land; provided, however, in the event the owner of record of such fee title has conveyed the equitable title to such land by way of a land sale contract and such contract or a memorandum thereof is recorded, “holder of title” shall mean the contract vendee thereunder and not the record owner of the fee title.

“Voter” means a person who is a holder of title.

“Board of election” means a board consisting of an inspector and two judges.

“Irrigation” includes subirrigation, percolation, underground storage, and well replenishment.