The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
(a) It is the policy of the state to encourage orderly growth and development, which are essential to the social, fiscal, and economic well-being of the state. The Legislature recognizes that the logical formation, consolidation, and operation of water systems is an important factor in promoting orderly development and in balancing that development against sometimes competing state interests of discouraging urban sprawl, preserving open space and prime agricultural lands, and efficiently extending other government services. Therefore, the policy of the state should be affected by the logical formation, consolidation, and operation of water systems.
(b) The powers set forth in Section 116682 for consolidation of water systems are consistent with the intent of promoting orderly growth.