Civil Code (Cap. 16), article 450

450. (1) Any person who cannot receive water into his own tenement from fountains or other deposits of public water, exce pt through rural tenements belonging to other persons, may compel the owners of such tenements to grant him, in such manner as shall least injuriously affect them, the right of watercourse, subjec t to the payment of an indemnity pro portionate to the damage. (2) It shall not be lawful for such person to compel the said owners to allow him to make new channels, if they grant to him watercourse by means of the existing channels; in which case the indemnity shall be determined having regard to the value of suc h channels, and the expense necessa ry for their first repair, and the person who makes use of them shall remain bound to contribute t o the expense of their upkeep as provided in article 452. Action for indemnity subject to prescription.