What legal principle allows a well owner to pump unlimited water, even from others' land?

The Rule of Capture is a legal doctrine that grants a landowner the right to pump as much groundwater as they can from their well, regardless of the impacts on neighboring properties or landowners. This means that if a landowner drills a well, they can extract as much water as they wish from their own land, even if it results in the depletion of aquifers that may also supply water to adjacent properties.

This principle operates under the idea that groundwater is a resource that belongs to the landowner, and as such, they have the freedom to capture and use water without limitation. The concept hinges on the notion that because water is often found underground and can move freely, it cannot be owned until it is captured. This means that a well owner is not liable for the consequences of pumping water that may result in reduced availability for those nearby, making the Rule of Capture a significant aspect of groundwater rights in Texas and many other jurisdictions.

While the other options refer to different concepts related to water rights or usage, they do not embody the unrestricted right to extract groundwater from one's own well, which is a key feature of the Rule of Capture.