Water rights pertain to the legal rights of property owners to access and use bodies of water adjacent to lands they hold. Different types of water rights exist based on various forms of water that border or exist on a property.
Key points
- Water rights give landowners access to bodies of water adjacent to one’s property.
- Riparian rights are a type of water rights that give landowners access and usage of flowing bodies of water like rivers and streams.
- Littoral rights are a type of water rights that guarantee access to the lakes, seas, and oceans.
- Water rights are regulated state-by-state and each municipality can enforce stricter provisions on water access and usage.
There are three main types of water rights — water allocations, water permits and water licences.
The water rights advisory process may include negotiating with the likes of the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy or Sunwater, to provide strategic advice relating to these assets.
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