Which statement about grandfathered rights is true?

Grandfathered rights in Arizona water law refer to water rights that were established before certain regulatory frameworks were put into place, such as the Groundwater Management Act of 1980. These rights allow users to continue their previous water use without being subject to more stringent regulations that apply to new water rights established after that legislation.

The correct statement is that grandfathered rights are transferred with the land. This means that when a property that holds grandfathered water rights is sold or conveyed to a new owner, those rights automatically transfer to the new owner as part of the property. This is significant because it ensures that water rights established before restrictive regulations can continue to be utilized and passed on to future property owners, maintaining historical usage patterns and providing stability in water access.

In contrast, statements about these rights being limited to irrigation or requiring continuous use for validity do not accurately reflect the nature of grandfathered rights. While they can indeed be used for irrigation, they are not restricted solely to that purpose. The requirement for continuous usage to maintain validity typically applies to other types of water rights, not grandfathered ones, as these rights have often been recognized for their established usage as of a certain date. Finally, stating that grandfathered rights are non-transferable is incorrect, as