Certified Residential Appraiser Practice Exam

Which term describes the legal right to access water from a river running through a property?

1. Aquifer rights

2. Riparian rights

3. Groundwater rights

4. Littoral rights

The correct answer is: Riparian rights

The legal right to access water from a river running through a property is known as riparian rights. These rights typically pertain to landowners whose property is adjacent to a flowing body of water, such as a river or stream. Under riparian rights, property owners are entitled to make reasonable use of the water, including domestic and agricultural uses, while also adhering to regulations that protect the water's quality and availability for all users. Riparian rights are based on the principle that water is a shared resource, and those who own land along a river or stream have an inherent right to use that water. This legal concept helps to ensure that both the property owner and other users of the water can benefit from this natural resource without causing undue harm to one another. In contrast, other options pertain to different aspects of water rights. Aquifer rights concern water that is found underground in aquifers, groundwater rights specifically refer to the use of water sourced from wells or underground sources, and littoral rights apply to properties adjacent to lakes or oceans, dealing with standing water rather than flowing water as with riparian rights. Hence, they do not apply to the situation involving a river.