Legal Definitions - water right

A water right is the legal right to use water from a natural stream or an artificial canal for various purposes such as irrigation, power generation, and domestic use. This right is also known as an aquatic right or riparian right.

For example, a farmer who owns land next to a river may have a water right to divert water from the river to irrigate their crops. Similarly, a hydroelectric power plant may have a water right to use water from a nearby canal to generate electricity.

Water rights are important because they determine who has the right to use water and how much they can use. They are often regulated by government agencies to ensure that water is used fairly and sustainably.