P.R. Laws tit. 12, § 1115n
Where several petitions are presented for the purpose of utilizing beneficially and reasonably a body of water and it lacks the sufficient volume to meet them all, or when there is sought the beneficial and reasonable utilization of a body of water that is incompatible with another foreseeable use also beneficial and reasonable, or when there is sought the utilization of a source for a purpose more beneficial and reasonable than any of the existing ones, the Secretary shall grant the petitions which represent the most beneficial and reasonable utilization and best satisfy the public interest and the purposes of this chapter. The adjudication of an insufficient volume of water shall be based on an analysis of costs and social benefits. The utilization of waters for domestic consumption and particularly for human consumption shall have priority over any others.
The Secretary shall establish the regulatory procedures necessary to enforce this section. The compensation or payment corresponding to holders of permits or franchises which may be affected by decisions which the Secretary may adopt by virtue of the powers granted to him by this section shall be determined pursuant to the procedure established in section 1115j(a) of this title.
History —June 3, 1976, No. 136, p. 390, § 15.