Which laws govern the use and ownership of underground water?

The correct answer is percolating water rights, which refer specifically to the ownership and use of underground water that seeps or percolates through the soil. This concept is vital for managing the rights related to groundwater that is not confined to a specific watercourse or body of water but can be found in various soil layers.

Percolating water rights are especially important for property owners who rely on wells or other means to access underground water for irrigation, drinking, and other uses. These rights typically allow landowners to extract water from beneath their property, although they may still be subject to certain regulations, such as sustainable usage limits to prevent depletion of the aquifer.

Other options represent different legal concepts. Riparian rights deal with water rights for land adjacent to flowing bodies of water like rivers and streams. Surface water rights are related to water that collects on the surface of the land, such as lakes and ponds. Coastal water rights cover the rights to use water along coastlines, typically concerning tidal and navigable waters. Each of these areas of law addresses water rights in specific contexts and does not pertain to water found underground.