---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 493"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "493"
heading: "Operation charges; date of payment; discount; advance payment"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/493"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Reclamation and Irrigation of Lands by Federal Government"
  - "Subchapter XI — Maintenance and Operation of Works Generally"
---

# §493. Operation charges; date of payment; discount; advance payment


All operation and maintenance charges upon [projects](/usc/43/485a.md?p=c) existing prior to December 5, 1924, shall become due and payable on the date fixed for each [project](/usc/43/485a.md?p=c) by the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) of the Interior, and if such charge is paid on or before the date when due there shall be a discount of 5 per centum of such charge.

All contracts providing for new [projects](/usc/43/485a.md?p=c) and new divisions of [projects](/usc/43/485a.md?p=c) approved after December 5, 1924, shall require that all operation and maintenance charges shall be payable in advance. In each case where the care, operation, and maintenance of a [project](/usc/43/485a.md?p=c) or [division of a project](/usc/43/485a.md?p=h) are transferred to the water users the contract shall require the payment of operation and maintenance charges in advance. Whenever an adjustment of water charges is made under sections 371, 376, 377, 412, 417, 433, 438,[^1] 462, 463,[^1] 466, 467,[^1] 473,[^1] 474,[^1] 478, 493, 494, 500, 501 and [526](/usc/43/526.md) of this title the adjustment contract shall provide that thereafter all operation and maintenance charges shall be payable in advance.


## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Aug. 13, 1914, ch. 247, § 6, 38 Stat. 688; Dec. 5, 1924, ch. 4, § 4, subsec. N, 43 Stat. 704.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 438 of this title, referred to in text, was repealed by act Aug. 13, 1953, ch. 428, § 10, 67 Stat. 568.

Sections 463, 467, 473, and 474 of this title, referred to in text, were repealed by act May 25, 1926, ch. 383, § 47, 44 Stat. 650.

### Codification

First paragraph of this section is comprised of part of first sentence of section 6 of act Aug. 13, 1914. Remainder of first sentence of such section 6 is classified to sections 479, 494, and 495 of this title; second and third sentences of such section 6 are classified to sections 496 and 497 of this title, respectively.

Second paragraph of this section is from act Dec. 5, 1924.

Language was inserted in the first paragraph of this section limiting it to projects existing prior to Dec. 5, 1924, to avoid conflict with second paragraph applicable to projects after Dec. 5, 1924.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definitions

The definitions in section 371 of this title apply to this section.