42-329. Distribution of water at source of supply among proprietors of works. The waters of the several streams and sources of supply shall be distributed among the several canals, ditches, conduits and other works so that the proprietors of each of said works, and those entitled to water therefrom, shall, as nearly as may be, and to the extent of their needs, at all times receive and enjoy the waters to which they are severally entitled; and whenever it shall appear that there is flowing into any such works, water to which the proprietor of any other such works having a prior right is entitled, and that such other works having priority of right is not receiving the water necessary for the consumers of water therefrom, and which ought to flow to the same, the head gate of such works having the excess, and being subsequent in right, shall be closed or partly closed, so that a sufficient amount of water of such stream or source of supply may pass and flow to the said works having the priority of right, to the amount to which the same shall be entitled; and if the proprietors of any such works having such excess and being subsequent in right shall fail or refuse to turn out such supply of water when requested by the party entitled to receive the same so to do, the head gate or waste gate of the works receiving such excess shall be so set and locked by the officer authorized by law to perform such duty as to permit a sufficient amount of said water to pass and flow to the party having the right to receive the same.

History: L. 1891, ch. 133, art. 4, § 9; May 20; R.S. 1923, 42-329.