76-9-1203. Unlawful taking of water or damaging a water facility.
(1) Terms defined in Sectionsandapply to this section. 76-1-101.5 76-9-1201
(2) An actor commits unlawful taking of water or damaging a water facility if the actor, in violation of a right of another person, intentionally or knowingly: turns on or uses the water, or a part thereof, of a canal, ditch, pipeline, or reservoir, except at a time when the use of the water has been duly distributed to the actor; uses a greater quantity of the water than has been duly distributed to the actor; in any way changes the flow of water when lawfully distributed for irrigation or other useful purposes, except when duly authorized to make the change; or breaks or injures a dam, canal, pipeline, watergate, ditch, or other means of diverting or conveying water for irrigation or other useful purposes.
(3) A violation of Subsectionis subject to the penalty provisions in Section. (2) 73-2-27
(4) Subsection (2) applies to violations of a right to the use of water, including: a water right; or authorization of a person's use of water by: a water company, as defined in Subsection; or 73-3-3.5(1)(b) an entity having a valid water right under Utah law.