water right

American  

noun

1. the right to make use of the water from a particular stream, lake, or irrigation canal.

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water right British  

noun

1. the right to make use of a water supply, as for irrigation

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Etymology

Origin of water right

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95

Example Sentences

Mike Abatti served as a board member of the Imperial Irrigation District from 2006-10 and once sued the district in a dispute over water rights.

From Los Angeles Times

He later sued the irrigation district in a dispute over water rights.

From Los Angeles Times

The property features three creeks that “meander through the ranch for over five miles,” as well as irrigated meadows and “historic water rights irrigating 1,200 acres.”

From MarketWatch

That century-old pact and the ingrained system of water rights, combined with water that costs next to nothing, Gold said, lead to “this slow-motion train wreck that is the Colorado right now.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Access to mineral rights, water rights and mitigation credits.”

From Salon