Why Access To Water Rights Was Never A Right

This article, from a symposium on water rights, explains how the history of access to water in England and early America, makes it difficult (but not impossible) to develop a “right” to water under traditional Anglo-American common law. This article ties physical geography - including the amazing abundance of water in the eastern part of the United States, with common law developments. The article also considers, briefly, that right of access to water for religious purposes and access to water under Indian law. Despite its “2010” publication date, this article was actually published in 2013.