What are the basic principles of irrigation law?

Water law in North Carolina is governed by a variety of principles, one of which includes irrigation law. Irrigation law generally aids in preserving the supply of water and providing equitable distribution of this water among different users. The first principle of irrigation law is the principle of beneficial use. The beneficial use principle states that water should be used in a manner that benefits the interests of the public, such as for drinking, irrigation, industry, power, and navigation. This principle seeks to prevent misuse of water for private gain. The second principle of irrigation law is the priority system. The priority system gives a legal priority to whoever was the first to use a certain source of water. This system helps to prevent disputes between users and ensures that allocated water is used according to the priority of the users. The third principle of irrigation law is the principle of coordination. This principle holds that water should be allocated to users in a coordinated manner so as to prevent harm to other users. This is known as “water-sharing” and aims to prevent overuse of a resource. The fourth principle of irrigation law is the principle of reasonable use. This principle seeks to ensure equitable distribution of water resources among users and prevents harm to downstream users. The principle of reasonable use requires the user to use the resource in a way that does not cause harm or loss to other users. These four principles are the basis of irrigation law in North Carolina and other states. They are used to preserve the availability and equitable distribution of water resources and protect the interests of the public.

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