The entire plot for Season 3 is based on the true story of Lynda and Stewart Resnick and their Paramount Farms ("Wonderful", "Pom", etc.) empire that is primarily in Kern County, and yes, controls the Kern County Water Bank. And yes, many residents of the South-Central Valley around Bakersfield don't have tap water for various (legal) reasons. This is not a secret if one has been following the press over the past few years.
Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob Thorton are both actors/musicians who have bands that perform on a regular basis.
A song by Buck Owens plays during the opening sequence. The famous country singer claimed Bakersfield as his home town.
This season is very influenced by, and follows the plot of, the famous neo noir Chinatown.