OAR 690-380-2410: Municipal Water Rights

(1) Water used under a permit or certificate issued to a municipality, under rights conferred by ORS 538.410 to 538.450, or under the registration system set forth in ORS 537.132 may be applied to beneficial use on: (a) Any lands acquired by the municipality through annexation, merger, consolidation, or by the formation of a water supply authority in accordance with ORS 540.510(3)(a)(A) so long as the rate and duty allowed under the right is not exceeded; (b) Subject to the limitations in section (3), lands other than those described in subsection (1)(a) of this rule in accordance with ORS 540.510(3)(a)(B) so long as the use continues to be for municipal purposes and the rate and duty allowed under the right is not exceeded; (c) Any lands for which the use is authorized by the Department of Environmental Quality or Department of Agriculture under ORS 468B.050 or 468B.053 and for which a reclaimed water registration has been filed under ORS 537.132. (2) A municipality may seek authorization to use water for municipal purposes on lands other than those described in section (1) of this rule under a water use subject to transfer by submitting a water right transfer application to change the place of use or character of use under OAR 690-380-3000. (3) The Director may order termination of the use of water under subsection (1)(b) of this rule or, in consultation with the municipal water supplier, may impose other restrictions necessary to eliminate interference with or impairment of prior vested water rights resulting from the use of water under subsection (1)(b) of this rule. (4) As used in this rule, "municipal purposes" includes municipal use, quasi-municipal use, group domestic, domestic use, and human consumption as defined in OAR 690, division 300.