What are the three primary types of water rights?

The identification of riparian, appropriative, and prescriptive rights as the three primary types of water rights is rooted in how water is utilized and allocated in relation to land ownership and usage.

Riparian rights are associated with properties that are adjacent to a water source, such as rivers or lakes. Individuals who own land next to these bodies of water have the right to use the water for reasonable purposes, provided that such use does not negatively impact the rights of other riparian owners. This concept is rooted in the notion that water should be available to those who own land adjacent to it, promoting equitable access.

Appropriative rights differ from riparian rights and are based on the principle of "first in time, first in right." This means that users can divert water from a source for beneficial use, regardless of land adjacency. Historically significant in regions with scarce water resources, this system allows individuals or entities to claim rights to water usage, provided they utilize it efficiently and beneficially.

Prescriptive rights arise when a user has been utilizing water for a specific purpose without the permission of the water's legal owner, typically over a period of time that reflects a continuous and open use. This concept mirrors the principle of adverse possession in property law, allowing the user