Any persons, acting jointly or severally, who have purchased and used water for irrigation for lands occupied by them from any ditch or reservoir, and have not ceased to do so for the purpose or with intent to procure water from some other source of supply, have the right to continue to purchase water to the same amount for their lands, on paying or tendering the price thereof fixed by the board of county commissioners as provided in sections 37-85-103 to 37-85-106 or, if no price has been fixed by them, the price at which the owners of such ditch or reservoir may be then selling water or did sell water during the then last preceding year. This section shall not apply to the case of those who may have taken water as stockholders or shareholders after they have sold or forfeited their shares or stock, unless they have retained a right to procure such water by contract, agreement, or understanding and use between themselves and the owners of such ditch and not then to the injury of other purchasers of water from or shareholders in the same ditch.
Source: L. 1879: p. 96, § 3. G.S. § 1740. R.S. 08: § 3264. C.L. § 1741. CSA: C. 90, § 139. CRS 53: § 147-8-1. C.R.S. 1963: § 148-8-1.