A petition for the formation of a district shall set forth generally:

The petition may consist of any number of separate instruments, which shall be duplicates except as to signatures.

The petitioners shall file with the petition a list of the names and addresses of all persons holding title to land within the proposed district as shown by the last equalized assessment roll of each affected county.

The petition shall also be accompanied by a sufficient undertaking, to be approved by the department, in double the amount of the probable cost of forming the district as estimated by the department, conditioned that the sureties shall pay all of the costs in case the formation is not effected.

The department may require the furnishing of any additional undertaking or payment of money it deems necessary.

The formation petition and accompanying documents shall be presented to and filed with the department.

Signatures to the petition may be withdrawn at any time before its publication is commenced by filing a declaration signed and acknowledged by the petitioner with the department stating that it is the intention of the petitioner to withdraw from the petition.