In one part of our county, the water table is high enough that no one builds
homes with basements in that area. As I was driving by one of the many new
housing developments the other day I wondered, if I lived in a swampy area
like that, could I just dig a hole and put a pump down there to pump up
water for irrigation? In the same area, culinary water is the only way to
get your lawn watered.

My gut says, "well, sure, it's your land, you have the rights to
anything you find on it, be it gold, toxic waste, or swamp water". But
then, I seem to recall that there are a lot of intricate laws on the books
specifically about water rights.

Just curious. Any thoughts?