Senior Water Right

Senior Water Right

Definition

A superior entitlement to use water in a prior-appropriation system based on having appropriated water and put it to beneficial use before other water users. When not enough water is available to satisfy all water rights in a system, rights are filled in order of seniority. The key principle is often iterated as “first-in-time is first-in-right.”

Related rules

A compilation of all the rules of law on our site relating to this key term.

— Central Platte Natural Resources District v. Wyoming

— Martiny v. Wells

— Ophir Silver Mining Co. v. Carpenter

— R.J.A., Inc. v. Water Users Association

Get full access FREE

With a 7-day free trial membership
Here's why 955,000 law students have relied on our key terms:
  • A complete online legal dictionary of law terms and legal definitions
  • Over 8,000 key terms written in plain English to help you not only understand the law but master it
  • The premier online law dictionary built specifically for law students
  • Easy access in class or on the go, accessible both online and through the Quimbee mobile app
  • Reliable - written by legal professors and practitioners
  • Get instant access to all related rules of law to any specific key term with a Quimbee Study Aids subscription

Get full access FREE

With a 7-day free trial membership