There are water rights out west. One must get a permit before doing something like he did and prove he has the water rights to his land. No water rights per the property’s deed, you are dead.
In this case, he is lucky to be going to jail for a year.
Rule number one out west - check the land deed to ascertain who has the water rights to the property before buying it.
But the water comes from above, not from the property.
How does that sound?
I collected some rain water today in my dog's bowls...and used it to water some plants.
Take me to jail.
Sounds like those deeds need some challenging in Federal court...all the way to the top if needed.
So water rights includes water that falls from the skies? I thought that only pertained to rivers and underground reservoirs.