Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Legal Institutions For The Allocation Of Water And Their Impact On Coal Conversion Operations In Kentucky, Richard C. Ausness, Gary W. Callahan, Steven W. Dills, Bill H. Flynn, John S. Gillig

KWRRI Research Reports

The conversion of coal into other types of fuel through gasification and liquefaction has been proposed as a means of coping with America's increasing energy needs. Coal conversion plants require large quantities of water for cooling purposes and for use as a raw material.

There are three types of water allocation presently used in the United States, riparianism, prior appropriation, and administrative permit systems. The common law riparian system is undesirable because under it water rights are insecure and subject to locational use restrictions. Prior appropriation is better, but the permanent water right created under this system results in excessive …