(2) The property described in subsection (1) of this section shall not be exempt if either of the following conditions existed in the 12-month period prior to the January 1 assessment date:

(a) More than 15 percent of the members of the association were a commercial establishment or establishments that used any of the water for commercial purposes.

(b) More than 25 percent of the total annual volume of water furnished by the association was used by a commercial establishment or establishments for commercial purposes.

(3) For the purpose of this section service to the government of this state, the government of the United States, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of either of them, shall not be construed as a commercial purpose.

(4)(a) An association seeking to claim an exemption under this section shall file an application with the county assessor on or before April 1 preceding the tax year for which the exemption is being claimed.

(b) An application is not required under this section if the property of the association was exempt under this section for the previous tax year and, as of the assessment date for the current tax year, the ownership or use of all of the property that was the subject of the application remains unchanged.

(5) The application shall be on such form and shall contain such information as the Department of Revenue shall prescribe.

(6) The county assessor shall approve or disapprove an application filed under this section and shall notify the applicant of the assessor’s determination. [Amended by 1953 c.709 §2; 1955 c.207 §1; 1957 c.274 §1; 1971 c.258 §1; 1971 c.759 §1; 1991 c.459 §49; 1997 c.113 §4; 1997 c.541 §109; 2003 c.37 §1]