[ULPIANUS libro septuagensimo ad edictum. ] §43.21.1.prPraetor ait: 'Riuos specus septa reficere purgare aquae ducendae causa quo minus liceat illi, dum ne aliter aquam ducat, quam uti priore aestate non ui non clam non precario a te duxit, uim fieri ueto'. §43.21.1.1Hoc interdictum utilissimum est: nam nisi permittatur alicui reficere, alia ratione usu incommodabitur.
The praetor says: 'I forbid force to be used to prevent him from repairing and cleaning channels, conduits, and barriers for the purpose of conducting water, provided that he does not conduct water in any other way than as he conducted it from you during the previous summer, not by force, not secretly, and not by precarious permission.' This interdict is extremely useful; for unless a person is permitted to repair, he will otherwise be inconvenienced in the use.
§43.21.1.2Ait ergo praetor 'riuum specus'. riuus est locus per longitudinem depressus, quo aqua decurrat, cui nomen est από του ρειν.
Therefore, the praetor says 'channel, conduit.' A channel (riuus) is a place lowered lengthwise, through which water flows down, whose name is derived from 'to flow' (ἀπὸ τοῦ ῥεῖν).
§43.21.1.3Specus autem est locus, ex quo despicitur: inde spectacula sunt dicta.
On the other hand, a conduit (specus) is a place from which one looks down; hence, spectacles (spectacula) are so named.
§43.21.1.4Septa sunt, quae ad incile opponuntur aquae deriuandae compellendaeue ex flumine causa, siue ea lignea sunt siue lapidea siue qualibet alia materia sint, ad continendam transmittendamque aquam excogitata.
Barriers (septa) are those things placed opposite an intake (incile) for the purpose of diverting or driving water from a river, whether they are made of wood, stone, or any other material, devised for holding back and transmitting water.
§43.21.1.5Incile est autem locus depressus ad latus fluminis, ex eo dictus, quod incidatur: inciditur enim uel lapis uel terra, unde primum aqua ex flumine agi possit.
An intake (incile) is a place lowered at the side of a river, so named because it is cut into (inciditur); for either stone or earth is cut into, from where water can first be drawn from the river.
sed et fossae et putei hoc interdicto continentur.
But both ditches (fossae) and wells (putei) are also included in this interdict.
§43.21.1.6Deinde ait praetor 'reficere purgare'. reficere est quod corruptum est in pristinum statum restaurare.
Next, the praetor says 'to repair, to clean.' To repair (reficere) is to restore what is damaged to its original state.
uerbo reficiendi tegere substruere sarcire aedificare, item aduehere adportareque ea, quae ad eandem rem opus essent, continentur.
Under the word 'repairing' are included covering, constructing foundations, patching, building, and likewise bringing and carrying those things which are necessary for the same purpose.
§43.21.1.7Purgandi uerbum plerique quidem putant ad eum riuum pertinere, qui integer est: et palam est et ad eum pertinere, qui refectione indiget: plerumque enim ut refectione, et purgatione indiget.
Most people indeed think that the word 'cleaning' (purgare) refers to a channel that is intact; but it is clear that it also refers to one that needs repair; for usually, just as it needs repair, so it also needs cleaning.
'Aquae', inquit, 'ducendae causa'.
'For the purpose of conducting water,' he says.
merito hoc additur, ut ei demum permittatur et reficere et purgare riuum, qui aquae ducendae causa id fecit.
This is rightly added, so that only he who did it for the purpose of conducting water is permitted both to repair and to clean the channel.
§43.21.1.8Hoc interdictum competit etiam ei, qui ius aquae ducendae non habet, si modo aut priore aestate aut eodem anno aquam duxerit, cum sufficiat non ui non clam non precario duxisse.
This interdict is available even to one who does not have the right of watercourse, provided that he conducted water either in the previous summer or in the same year, since it is sufficient to have conducted it not by force, not secretly, and not by precarious permission.
§43.21.1.9Si quis terrenum riuum signinum, id est lapideum facere uelit, uideri eum non recte hoc interdicto uti: non enim reficit qui hoc facit: et ita Ofilio uidetur.
If anyone should wish to make an earthen channel into a signinum (that is, stone) one, he is considered not to use this interdict rightly; for he who does this does not 'repair'; and so it seems to Ofilius.
§43.21.1.10Proinde et si per alium locum uelit ducere, impune prohibetur: sed et si eundem riuum deprimat uel adtollat aut dilatet uel extendat uel operiat apertum uel contra.
Accordingly, if he also wishes to conduct water through another place, he is prohibited with impunity; but also if he deepens or raises, widens or extends the same channel, or covers an open one, or vice versa.
ego ceteros quidem impune prohiberi puto: at enim eum, qui operiat apertum uel contra, eum non puto prohibendum, nisi si quam maiorem utilitatem suam aduersarius ostendat.
I indeed think that the others are prohibited with impunity; but as for him who covers an open one or vice versa, I do not think he should be prohibited, unless the adversary demonstrates some greater utility of his own.