Sec 45-141. Public nature of waters of the state; beneficial use; reversion to state; actions not constituting abandonment or forfeiture

A. The waters of all sources, flowing in streams, canyons, ravines or other natural channels, or in definite underground channels, whether perennial or intermittent, flood, waste or surplus water, and of lakes, ponds and springs on the surface, belong to the public and are subject to appropriation and beneficial use as provided in this chapter.

B. Beneficial use shall be the basis, measure and limit to the use of water. An appropriator of water is entitled to beneficially use all of the water appropriated on less than all of the land to which the water right is appurtenant, and this beneficial use of the water appropriated does not result in the abandonment or forfeiture of all or any portion of the right.

C. Except as otherwise provided in this title or in title 48, when the owner of a right to the use of water ceases or fails to use the water appropriated for five successive years, the right to the use shall cease, and the water shall revert to the public and shall again be subject to appropriation. This subsection or any other statutory forfeiture by nonuse shall not apply to a water right initiated before June 12, 1919.

D. Underground water storage, pursuant to chapter 3.1 of this title, for future beneficial use of waters appropriated pursuant to this chapter does not constitute an abandonment or forfeiture.

E. The following water exchange arrangements or substitutions do not constitute an abandonment or forfeiture of all or any portion of a right to use surface water:

1. Exchanging surface water for groundwater, effluent, Colorado river water, including water delivered through the central Arizona project, or another source of surface water pursuant to chapter 4 of this title.

2. Substituting groundwater, effluent, Colorado river water, including water delivered through the central Arizona project, or another source of surface water for surface water.