(a) In case any charges for water and other services or either remain unpaid, the amount of the unpaid charges may, in the discretion of the district:

(1) If unpaid at the time specified for delivery of the assessment book to the collector, be added to and become a part of the annual assessment levied upon the real property upon which the water for which the charges are unpaid was used and upon the real property subject to the charges for any other district services and shall constitute a lien on that real property. However, if, during the year preceding the date on which the first installment of real property taxes which evidence the charges appears on the roll, any real property to which the lien would attach has been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value, or if a lien of a bona fide encumbrancer for value has been created and attaches thereon, then the lien which would otherwise be imposed by this subdivision shall not be added to and become part of the annual assessment nor shall it attach to the real property.

(2) Be secured at any time by filing for record in the office of the county recorder of any county, a certificate specifying the amount of the charges and the name and address of the person liable therefor.

From the time of recordation of the certificate, the amount required to be paid together with interest and penalty constitutes a lien upon all real property in the county owned by the person or afterwards, and before the lien expires, acquired by him or her. The lien has the force, priority, and effect of a judgment lien and shall continue for 10 years from the date of the filing of the certificate unless sooner released or otherwise discharged. The lien may, within 10 years from the filing of the certificate or within 10 years from the date of the last extension of the lien in the manner herein provided, be extended by filing for record a new certificate in the office of the county recorder of any county and from the time of the filing the lien shall be extended to the real property in such county for 10 years unless sooner released or otherwise discharged.

When the charges have become delinquent, they may be collected in the manner provided for the collection of delinquent assessments in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 26075) and Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 26225) of Division 11 of Part 10.

(b) Where the county assumes the responsibility of assessment and collection pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 26500), the amount of the unpaid charges may be added to, and become part of, the annual assessment levied upon the real property upon which the water for which the charges are unpaid was used and upon the real property subject to the charges for any other district services and shall constitute a lien on that real property upon recordation of the order confirming the assessment in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the real property is situated. However, if, during the year preceding the date on which the first installment of real property taxes which evidence the charges appears on the roll, any real property to which the lien would attach has been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value, or if a lien of a bona fide encumbrancer for value has been created and attaches thereon, then the lien which would otherwise be imposed by this subdivision shall not attach to the real property and the costs of the water and services or either, as confirmed, relating to the property shall be transferred to the unsecured roll for collection.

(Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1052, Sec. 2.)