82a-701. Definitions. When used in this act, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following words shall have the following meanings:

(a) "Person" shall mean and include a natural person, a partnership, an organization, a corporation, a municipality and any agency of the state or federal government.

(b) "Chief engineer" means the chief engineer of the division of water resources of the Kansas department of agriculture.

(c) "Domestic uses" means the use of water by any person or by a family unit or household for household purposes, or for the watering of livestock, poultry, farm and domestic animals used in operating a farm, and for the irrigation of lands not exceeding a total of two acres in area for the growing of gardens, orchards and lawns.

(d) "Vested right" means the right of a person under a common law or statutory claim to continue the use of water having actually been applied to any beneficial use, including domestic use, on or before June 28, 1945, to the extent of the maximum quantity and rate of diversion for the beneficial use made thereof, and shall include the right to take and use water for beneficial purposes where a person is engaged in the construction of works for the actual application of water to a beneficial use on June 28, 1945, provided such works shall be completed and water is actually applied for such use within a reasonable time thereafter by such person, such person's heirs, successors or assigns. Such a right does not include, however, those common law claims under which a person has not applied water to any beneficial use within the periods of time set out in this subsection.

(e) "Appropriator" means and includes a person who has an appropriation right that has been perfected in conformity with article 7 of chapter 82a of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.

(f) "Appropriation right" is a right, acquired under the provisions of article 7 of chapter 82a of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, to divert from a definite water supply a specific quantity of water at a specific rate of diversion, provided such water is available in excess of the requirements of all vested rights that relate to such supply and all appropriation rights of earlier date that relate to such supply, and to apply such water to a specific beneficial use or uses in preference to all appropriations right of later date.

(g) "Water right" means any vested right or appropriation right under which a person may lawfully divert and use water. It is a real property right appurtenant to and severable from the land on or in connection with which the water is used and such water right passes as an appurtenance with a conveyance of the land by deed, lease, mortgage, will, or other disposal, or by inheritance.

History: L. 1945, ch. 390, § 1; L. 1957, ch. 539, § 1; L. 1977, ch. 356, § 3; L. 2004, ch. 101, § 141; L. 2009, ch. 65, § 1; July 1.