How are water rights allocated among users?

In Florida, water rights are allocated among users through a system of water law that dates back to the early 19th century. Water rights are granted either through riparian rights, prescriptive rights, or by acquiring a permit from the water management district (WMD). Riparian rights are the oldest form of water rights. They come with the property and allow the owner to use water from an adjacent body of water for a "reasonable" use. For example, a homeowner who owns property along a river may be able to use the river for irrigation or hydraulics. Prescriptive Rights are rights granted to people who have used a body of water on a certain property for an extended period of time. If a farmer has been irrigating his crops with water from a certain stream for more than 10 years, he may be able to claim prescriptive rights to use that water. The most common way to acquire a water right in Florida is to apply for a permit from the water management district (WMD). The WMD will review the permit application and decide if a water right should be granted. WMDs prioritize and award water rights based on the public need and the water source. For instance, water for public drinking supplies will be given higher priority than water for irrigation. In conclusion, water rights are allocated among users in Florida through a combination of riparian rights, prescriptive rights, and permits issued by the WMD. The rights are allotted based on the public need and the water source.

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How are water rights allocated among users?

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