Orphan asylums, houses for destitute children, reformatory institutions, industrial schools, asylums for the insane, homes for confederate or federal soldiers, national homes for disabled volunteer soldiers, and all eleemosynary institutions of like class chartered or incorporated under the laws of the state of Tennessee, or of the United States congress, dependent for support upon the public, have the right to acquire, by purchase or donation, springs of water, flowing streams, and water rights of lower riparian owners; and, further, the right and power to acquire, by purchase, donation, or condemnation, the riparian rights of lower owners of land through which flows the water of springs so purchased or donated, to the flow of water from the springs, rights-of-way through the lands of intervening property owners, when necessary for the purpose of conveying water by means of pipes and conductors, and suitable site or sites for pumping stations and reservoirs, all so as to procure a sufficient supply of potable and wholesome water for such institutions.