§666 Suits for adjudication of water rights

Summary

Allows the United States to be sued as a defendant in court cases that decide or manage who can use water from a river or other source when the U.S. owns or is getting those water rights and must be part of the case. By being in the case, the U.S. gives up the right to say state law does not apply or that it cannot be sued because it is the government. The U.S. must follow the court’s orders and can ask for review or appeal like a private person. Courts cannot order the U.S. to pay the other side’s legal costs. Legal papers in these cases must be served on the Attorney General or a designated representative. This does not allow joining the United States in Supreme Court cases about states’ rights to use water from an interstate stream.