TITLE 42

IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE — WATER RIGHTS AND RECLAMATION

CHAPTER 9

DISTRIBUTION OF WATER TO CONSUMERS

42-914.  Sale or rental constitutes a dedication — Domestic purposes construed — Liability for violation. Whenever any waters have been or shall be appropriated or used for agricultural or domestic purposes under a sale, rental or distribution thereof, such sale, rental or distribution shall be deemed an exclusive dedication to such use upon the tract of land for which such appropriation or use has been secured, and, whenever such waters so dedicated shall have once been sold, rented or distributed to any person who has settled upon or improved land for agricultural purposes with the view of receiving the benefit of such water under such dedication, such person, his heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns, shall not thereafter be deprived of the annual use of the same when needed for agricultural or domestic purposes upon the tract of land for which such appropriation or use has been secured, or to irrigate the land so settled upon or improved, upon payment therefor, and compliance with such equitable terms and conditions as to the quantity used and times of use as may be prescribed by law. "Domestic purposes" shall not be construed to include any manner of land irrigation. Any person, association or corporation violating any of the provisions of this section, shall be liable for all damage to any party or parties injured thereby, which damage shall be determined by the proper court.

History:

[(42-914) 1895, p. 174, sec. 14; reen. R.C. & C.L., sec. 3291; C.S., sec. 5638; I.C.A., sec. 41-814.]