Legal Definitions - developed water

Developed Water

"Developed water" refers to water that has been made available for use through human effort, rather than existing in its natural state or course. This typically involves capturing, storing, diverting, treating, or otherwise manipulating water resources to create a usable supply. Rights to developed water are often distinct from rights to water flowing naturally, as the human intervention creates a new or enhanced source of water.

• Example 1: A farming cooperative in an arid region constructs a large network of canals and a reservoir to collect snowmelt from distant mountains during the spring. This collected and stored water is then distributed to irrigate crops throughout the summer months.

  Explanation: The snowmelt, in its natural state, would flow down rivers and might not be available for irrigation when needed. By building canals and a reservoir, the cooperative has actively intervened to capture, store, and manage this water, transforming it into "developed water" that can be used reliably for agriculture.

• Example 2: A growing city faces water shortages from its local river. To address this, the city invests in a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant that purifies used water to a potable standard, making it suitable for reuse by residents.

  Explanation: The wastewater, after its initial use, would typically be discharged. By implementing advanced treatment processes, the city has transformed this otherwise unusable water into a clean, reusable supply. This treated and recycled water is considered "developed water" because human effort has made it available for a new purpose.

• Example 3: A large industrial plant drills several deep wells to extract groundwater from an aquifer beneath its property. This groundwater is then pumped to the surface and used in its manufacturing processes.

  Explanation: While groundwater is a natural resource, the act of drilling wells and actively pumping it to the surface for a specific use constitutes human intervention. The water brought up from the aquifer through these engineered means is considered "developed water" because it has been made accessible and available for the plant's operations through deliberate human effort.