AQUA CURRIT ET DEBET CURRERE UT CURRERE SOLEBAT

Latin for water runs and ought to run which means that water that is stationary on one’s land is controlled by the land owner. But if the water is running through the land and flows to the lands of others, then the land owner’s right to the water is inferior to the flow and may not prevent the flow of water from running through and to the land of others. Also explained as follows: Water flows and should be allowed to flow. No one can have any right of property in a running stream, but only a right to use it; and this must be so exercised as not to interfere with other persons possessing similar rights.