ABSTRACT
This article states that an owner of an estate bordering running water may use the water to water his or her estate or for other purposes.
This article allows an owner of an estate over which water runs to make use of it while it runs over his or her lands. The owner cannot stop the water flow or change its course and is bound to return it to its original channel where it leaves his estate.
Article 490 states, “Unless otherwise provided by law, the ownership of a tract of land carries with it the ownership of everything that is directly above or under it.” Regulation of groundwater in Louisiana is a relatively recent thing.‡
