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The drought affecting the United States has been described by climatologists as "epic." This is a serious problem that is not likely to go away in the near future. It is predicted that the 2007/2008 winter season will be drier than normal, thus contributing to more water shortages. What this means is that the water levels of lakes, reservoirs and streams are dropping, and in some cases, springs and wells are running dry. It also means that water rights are going to become a heated legal issue, particularly in the areas that are hardest hit by drought.

If you own property that has water rights and are concerned about upcoming litigation, you may need to file claims for your water rights with your state water department or local court. The requirements and laws for every state are different; nonetheless, on a universal level, the forms may be intimidating because they may include "blanks" for you to fill out that specify water volume or flow calculations that you do not understand.

For instance, you might think that you are using 700 gallons of water a day, which would be 255,500 gallons per year (700 gallons multiplied by 365 days). However, your water right claim form might require that you specify how many acre-feet of water you use per year. How do you convert gallons to acre-feet? And what is an acre-foot in the first place?

An acre-foot is a common unit to measure volumes of water, generally in terms of irrigation use. However, you will find references to "acre feet" in domestic use and other water right forms. An acre-foot represents the volume of water sufficient to cover an acre of land to a depth of 1 foot (43,560 cubic feet, which is equivalent to approximately 325,851 U.S. gallons). Visualize this by seeing an acre of land that is completely submersed by one foot of water. On average, 1 acre-foot of water is enough to meet the demands of four people for a year.

Other water terms that you may see include:

CFS - This stands for "cubic feet per second."

GPA - This means "gallons per annum" (which means gallons per year)

MI - This refers to "miner's inches," a measurement that is not commonly used nowadays. This term was frequently used in the 1800s but was gradually replaced with CFS. There are different miner's inches standards for different states. You might run across references to miner's inches in old water right filings.

If you are concerned about the drought and your particular water uses and rights, it is important to visit with an attorney. Many people try the "self help" route by filing their own forms; however, water law is dynamic and constantly changing. To make sure that your rights are adequately protected during these times of increased scarcity, getting advice from an experienced water lawyer is your best option. Property without water is useless, so protecting your water rights will protect your long-term investment in land or other real estate.

Water volume and flow calculations can be daunting, especially if it has been a couple decades since you took an algebra class. You do not need to brush up on your math because the process is now easy. Simply plug in some numbers in the free online water calculators offered on http://www.Western-Water.com and get the results you need. Western Water also features articles and news about the drought, legal developments, and other important water issues.

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