Columnist Wayne Nash gives his interpretation of how certain regions, companies and industries view their rights to water.
The pilgrims instituted what we now call "right of capture." After all, how much water could a man drink? This worked pretty well until recent times, when serious users like golf courses and country clubs "captured" all the water, leaving smaller (read: poorer) users - like actual people and businesses - without. A hue and cry was raised and most governments quickly established a commission to study the problem. At huge expense, they're still studying, without much result.