ORS 553.250: Authority to acquire and dispose of water works; sale of water.

(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any water control district, whenever it appears necessary, proper or beneficial to its inhabitants, may acquire, construct, reconstruct, equip, own, maintain, operate, sell, lease and dispose of domestic, industrial and municipal water works or systems and property and all appurtenances incident thereto.

      (2) Any such water control district may furnish water for domestic, industrial and municipal uses to premises and inhabitants within its district, and in connection therewith, may supply, furnish and sell any surplus water storage or carrying capacity over and above the domestic, industrial and municipal needs of its inhabitants to persons and other public bodies as defined in ORS 174.109, either within or without the district; provided, however, that the power to furnish water for domestic, industrial and municipal uses herein conferred will not be exercised in such a manner as to impair the service of the district in furnishing water for its inhabitants.