Section 4. The owner or occupant of land which has been overflowed or otherwise injured by such dam may bring a civil action to obtain compensation therefor. Such action shall be commenced within three years next after the event complained of in the superior court for the county where the land or any part thereof lies; but if the land overflowed or injured is outside the commonwealth such action shall be brought in the superior court for the county where the dam or any part thereof is maintained.