Which right allows a landowner to use water adjacent to their property?

Riparian rights pertain specifically to the rights of landowners whose property is located alongside a body of water, such as a river, lake, or stream. These rights grant the landowner the ability to use and enjoy the water that is adjacent to their property. This includes activities such as fishing, boating, and accessing water for irrigation or household purposes. Essentially, riparian rights are based on the principle that water is a public resource, but landowners can use it as long as they do not excessively deprive others of its use.

The doctrine of prior appropriation generally applies to water rights in regions where water is scarce, allowing individuals to claim water to use for beneficial purposes, regardless of land ownership next to the water source. This is more common in western states than in South Carolina, differentiating it from the concept of riparian rights.

Easement rights do not specifically relate to water use but rather refer to the legal right to use another person's land for a specific purpose. These rights can cover a variety of situations but do not inherently involve the use of adjacent water bodies.

Water rights is a more general term and can encompass various aspects of water access and usage, including riparian rights, prior appropriation, and other related concepts.