Drawing water from the River

Going to go look at a property today that doesn't have water rights and a low flow well. The water master said I can buy a permit set up my water system to pull the water from the South Umpqua River then call a certified water rights examiner to approve my system. My question is how do I set it up and what items do I need? I live in Oregon

1. What is the elevation difference between the river and your property? This dictates the kind of pump you need. Also, talk to a local contractor to learn what kind of equipment people are installing that meets permit and inspection requirements.

2. I would get the water master to put what you were told in writing before you close on the property. Make it a condition of sale.

Hi, it's relatively simple and intricate. A pipe with a filter to catch water and keep creatures and debris out, A pump if the water needs to go uphill. A catchment tank to hold water for the house. A filter to treat the water for drinking.

Conversely you could use the well with a windmill pump to bring water to a tank for the house and use the river for the garden.

It can take up to a year to get the permit so I don't think the seller is going to wait on a buyer that long even though they told the listing agent it has water rights but had expired which is not true the State of Oregon said that property has never had water rights. I don't think they expire either.
I have no idea what the level is from ground to river as I won't be looking at it till a few hours from now.

Windmill sounds good but expensive unless I can build my own?

By "no water rights" does that mean you can't collect the water that lands on your roof, or just that you can't put in a deep well?
I don't understand why they would let you pump out of a local river, if you can't collect what lands on your land?

I would clarify those things - with the way weather patterns are changing, water security is going to be the "new oil" from many articles I've read. Yes, there are things you may do short-term to have water access, but I'd be looking also for how to develop that land to hold onto its rain water stored both in the soil and in cisterns.

I think the fact you suggest the seller mislead the listing agent is sending alarm bells through my head.
What water exactly does the property currently use, or is it just bare land with no services at all?
Are they trying to sell it now because values and demand are high, so they think they can't give their problem to someone else?

Jay raises some crucially important points. If you can't be assured of access to adequate volumes of water, including rain, your property will be nearly impossible to develop.

They have a 1550 gallon  water tank and the shower ran fine. Only thing is the house is not a fixer its a burn her downer complete dump. Floors are rotted and leaning every which way stinks to high hell. We couldn't get into every room because it just smelled too bad. House is cute from the pic's though. The property could be nice with work but they have old appliances etc scattered about. It's not worth the asking price of 300K because you would basically be getting property only.
Thank you for the responses and advice. I'll keep looking…….

It is very difficult to get new water rights in Oregon. I would definitely get that in writing, if it's important to you. Water rights in Oregon expire if not used. Rain water collection off of non-permeable surfaces is not only allowed but encouraged, as long as you are not trying to sell your rain water.

Just read the asking price, I would pass, that's pricey for a knockdown.

Susan Boyce wrote:

It's not worth the asking price of 300K because you would basically be getting property only.

If you see potential and have the time to invest in the property, consider tossing in a low-ball offer - below what you believe it is worth even - because you never know when people might get tired of waiting for someone who hasn't done their homework and decide to take what they can get.

How big was the property you were looking at, Susan? Just curious.

7 acres but I would have to rebuild everything, well at least the house and just the cost and labor it would take to remove all the debris from the house dismantle would not be beneficial for me. I also would have to find storage for my belongings and have a place to live in cook in bath in etc. Just don't have those funds today.

https://www.redfin.com/OR/Canyonville/808-Shively-Creek-Rd-97417/home/26055491

I actually told the agent I'd give them 100K and they need to clean up al those appliances and tanks scattered about. She said they wouldn't go that low and with the cost of building materials today it just wouldn't be worth it even at 225K. The agent said they might get 225K at the most cause it's on the river and BTW its a nice wide piece of the river, better than the pic's unlike the house.

It most certainly is overpriced and listed as a fixer upper…no I don't see anyone doing that. its just too far gone and not taken care of. From what I could gather since I haven't made a call to yet another government dept that controls what we can do with water rights. The thing is I probably could get one especially with the low flow well situation, but we are still in a drought and others pull from the river as well and they only give out so many allotments. Even though I lost my interest on this house at least I'm learning about water rights in my area for possible future reference :)

It's because the well when dug in 1992 at 140ft came in at 1gpm and it's now at a third of that. I contacted a well driller and he said that area is not good for wells.
I've passed on this property, if the house had been fixable I might have made an offer. I don't think the listing agent is doing any checking on the info the seller has given her so just keeps repeating it has water rights.

Hi Susan,

Smart decision. There were too many red and yellow flags for my comfort level.