1115o

Every legal, beneficial and reasonable use and utilization of waters existing on the date this act takes effect, including those acquired under grants from the government of Spain, or which existed within the preceding year, or was to commence at the termination of works in progress of the effective date of this act shall be considered as a vested right under the previous legislation and shall be protected by this chapter, taking into account the nature, content and scope of the right, as provided by the legislation from which it originated. The Secretary may recognize a vested right of a lesser amount than that claimed by the holder.This provision does not limit the powers which § 1115d of this title grants to the Secretary, and in no way reduces his authority to establish the true existence of the rights claimed, or to require the inscription and registration thereof, or to require information on existing wells and water connections, or to inspect those wells or water connections, or to require, in accord with reasonable terms and conditions, the conformation of existing installations or those under construction to the regulations that may be established, or to order the

ions, or to require, in accord with reasonable terms and conditions, the conformation of existing installations or those under construction to the regulations that may be established, or to order the installation of water meters or systems that gauge the volume of water used, or to require the repair of installations or the introduction of improvements that may reduce water waste. History —June 3, 1976, No. 136, p. 390, § 16; Aug. 29, 2000, No. 229, § 1.