Bloodgood v. Ayers , 44 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 356 ( 1885 )

LeaeNed, P. J.:

This is an action in equity to restrain tbe defendants from continuing to divert tbe waters of an alleged stream or water-course. Two questions were submitted to a jury, wbo found each for tbe plaintiff. Tbe court found other facts, and rendered a decision substantially according to tbe prayer of tbe complainant.

Tbe plaintiff’s land and tbe land of the defendant Ayers adjoin. On the land of Ayers, and about 120 feet from tbe dividing line, there is, and lias been for over fifty years, a spring. For some forty years prior to tbe alleged diversion tbe owners and occupants of tbe Ayers farm had kept and maintained a watering-trough some ten or twenty feet from that spring, to which tbe water bad been brought by a trough or leader about three inches wide, extending from the spring to tbe watering-trough. Tbe end of this at tbe spring was usually packed around with clay, to prevent tbe escape of the water except through tbe leader. On each side of tbe trough tbe ground rises, more on tbe west side ; and tbe ground also slopes south-easterly towards tbe line fence. . Tbe jury found that a stream or watercourse flowed in a well defined bed or channel down to and over tbe plaintiff’s land, with banks and channels, and that tbe same was supplied from tbe natural overflow of the spring.

Tbe claim of tbe defendants is, that tbe overflow at the trough disappeared in tbe ground, and ran under ground for some 100 feet; that it thus did not have tbe character of a running stream. It would seem, however, not to be disputed, that about twenty feet from tbe division line the water flowed on the surface of the ground. It crossed tbe division line, and at about twenty feet therefrom on tbe plaintiff’s land was received by him in what is called a reservoir and was used by him.

About 1879 the defendants put pump logs in the spring and conducted the water south-westerly through their land, for a considerable distance, say about nine chains, and discharged the same, after using it, in such a manner that it did not return to the natural course or to the plaintiff’s land. This diversion the plaintiff seeks to restrain.

It should he noticed that the defendants’ act is claimed to be, not simply the use of a reasonable quantity of water for cattle and for domestic purposes; nor is it claimed to be simply the using of that quantity of water at a different place from that where it had been formerly used. But the alleged wrong is that the defendants, not merely use what they need, but divert the water which they do not need and do not use, so that, instead of flowing on the plaintiff’s land, the surplus is carried off in another direction and does not come upon his land at all.

The question then is, not whether the defendants may not use all that they need 'for these purposes, but whether they may divert that surplus which they do not need, and which, but for their diversion of it, would flow on the plaintiff’s land. (Arnold v. Foot, 12 Wend., 330.)

The question submitted to the jury did not distinctly present the point whether the stream or water-course flowed from the spring; and the defendants by several requests asked the court to find that it did not. These requests were refused. And the defendants now urge that there is no finding and no evidence that any surface stream or water-course flowed within 100 feet of the spring. It is true that the jury found that the stream or watercourse which flowed bn plaintiff’s land was supplied from the natural overflow of the spring. This however is not enough to maintain the plaintiff’s action. For instance, the surface water which runs down a man’s hill may reach a water-course on his land and that water-course may run upon his neighbor’s land. Yet these facts would not prevent the man from detaining the surface water by ploughing or otherwise. So if there be a spring on a man’s land, and the overflow therefrom finally reaches a water-course, still the owner of the land may use or divert the water of the spring, although such use or diversion may prevent the water from reaching the water-course. This is one of the instances decided in Broadbent v. Ramsbothom (11 Exch., 602), which has been often cited with approval. (See Village of Delhi v. Youmans, 45 N. Y., 362.) To the same general effect is Rawstron v. Taylor( 11 Exch., 369). And it is held in this state that one may by filling in his land prevent the draining upon him of the surface water from higher adjacent land. (Barkley v. Wilcox, 86 N. Y., 140.)

This is contrary to the doctrine held in some states, but it is in accord with the views above stated, viz., that until water has reached and formed part of a water-course it may be diverted. (Goodale v. Tuttle, 29 N. Y., 459.)

The question tben must be wbetber, at the point where the defendants interfered with the water, viz., at the spring, there was a natural water-course, as defined in Barkley v. Wilcox (86 N. Y., 143 ; see the language at page 147). We think that the jury has not so found, nor can it be so found upon the evidence. ■ That the waters of the spring eventually reached a water-course we may assume. But there was no water-course at the spring. The whole water had been for years turned into á watering trough. The surplus or overflow disappeared in the ground. Farther on it probably appeared on the surface. But this does not make the case like that of Macomber v. Godfrey (108 Mass., 219), where an existing water-course spread out over a level meadow with no defined channel, and yet was held to have preserved its character of a water-course.

The spring which rises on a man’s land, like the rain which falls on it, are his. It is only when the water, coming, as probably it always does, from the rain in its origin, has actually formed itself into a “ natural stream flowing in a defined bed or channel, with banks and sides,” that its use -is restricted by those rules which the plaintiff here seeks to enforce.

There is another point. The defendants, by the judgment, are decreed to return the waters of the spring back to their natural bed as they ran prior to the diversion. Now, assuming even that there was a water-course- at the spring, the' defendants were entitled to use so much as was needed for domestic and agricultural purposes. They could use such amount where they chose. Possibly by carrying the water to a distance there might be some waste. But the question would be whether the use was unreasonable or the waste unnecessary. (Wadsworth v. Tillotson, 15 Conn., 366.) Or as is said in Gillett v. Johnson (30 Conn., 183), whether the water was used in a reasonable manner so as not to deprive the owner below of a sufficient supply. The judgment, therefore, should not have forbidden a reasonable use and should not have required an absolute return of the waters.

We think that the judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted, costs to abide the event.

Present — LeaeNed, P. J., Bocees and LaNdoN, JJ.

Judgment reversed, new trial granted, costs to abide event.