Water rights are bought and sold much like real estate in many parts of the country.
"Ownership of Water Rights" reports and water rights title insurance provide security similar to what a title search and title insurance provide for a property sale.
"With increased population and business in these dry Western states, many streams and rivers have been over appropriated, so no one else can take water from these sources," says Joe Knox, Stewart Water Information president. "In most circumstances, anyone who wants to build on the land must buy water rights from an existing owner or another party."
"Ownership of Water Rights" reports from Stewart outline important facts about who owns water rights. Stewart Title Guaranty Co. underwrites water rights title insurance policies, offering the similar assurance of ownership that the company has provided for property owners for more than 100 years.
"Historically, attorneys and engineers have prepared water right abstracts for individuals and businesses seeking information on water rights," Knox says. "Stewart Water Information is the first company of its kind to offer water rights information on a statewide basis."
Stewart Water has been offering water rights title insurance to Utah property owners since January.
Stewart Water Information provides water rights information on title, sales, applications, tabulations, well permits, court decrees, diversion records and monthly resumes. Water searches may be done to retrieve data based on location details. Individualized special services include title searches, well testing and applications.
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