Which term describes the rights of a property owner to use water from a nearby source?

The term that accurately describes the rights of a property owner to utilize water from a nearby source is water rights. This concept encompasses the legal entitlements that allow landowners to access and make use of water that flows over or under their property, or from adjacent bodies of water. Water rights are a crucial element in property law, particularly in areas where water resources are scarce and must be managed carefully.

In contrast, appurtenance refers to rights or privileges associated with a property, but it doesn’t specifically pertain to water usage. An easement relates to the right to use a portion of another person's property for a specific purpose, such as access roads, but again, this does not specifically connect to water rights. Equity is a legal principle that deals with fairness in the enforcement of rights and obligations but does not specifically address the rights to water access. Thus, the most precise and relevant term for the context of property owners and their rights concerning water use is water rights.