Wat. Code, § 13492

(a) The state board may recover any costs incurred in the enforcement of an agreement, including any criminal, civil, or administrative action related to the agreement.

(b) (1) The state board may recover any amount of financial assistance provided to a recipient not expended for purposes authorized by the agreement up to the full amount of the agreement.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Attorney General, upon request of the state board, shall bring an action in superior court to recover costs under this section.

(3) The state board may recover costs administratively as civil liability under Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 13323) of Chapter 5.

(c) The amount of the costs constitutes a lien on any property, including real property and personal property, obtained through, or improved with the proceeds of, the agreement. For real property liens under this section, the lien shall attach upon service of a copy of the notice of lien on the owner and upon the recordation of a notice of lien, if the notice identifies the property purchased with the financial assistance, the amount of the lien, and the owner of record of the property, in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the property is located. Upon recordation of a real property lien or notice to the recipient of a personal property lien, the lien shall have the same force, effect, and priority as a judgment lien, except that it attaches only to the property posted and described in the notice of lien, and shall continue for 10 years from the time of the recording of the notice, unless sooner released or otherwise discharged. Not later than 45 days from the date of receipt of a notice of lien, the owner may petition the court for an order releasing the property from the lien or reducing the amount of the lien. In that court action, the state board shall establish that the costs were reasonable and necessary. The lien may be foreclosed by an action brought by the state board for a money judgment. The lien shall be renewable at the expiration of each 10-year period from the time of the recording of the notice unless it has been discharged or foreclosed.