Collecting rainwater now illegal in many states as Big Government claims ownership over our water
by Brooke Adison
Collecting rainwater is now illegal in many states as the Government claims ownership over our water sources. Yes even rain water. ~ Health Freedoms
Many of the freedoms we enjoy here in the U.S. are quickly eroding as the nation transforms from the land of the free into the land of the enslaved, but what I’m about to share with you takes the assault on our freedoms to a whole new level. You may not be aware of this, but many Western states, including Utah, Washington and Colorado, have long outlawed individuals from collecting rainwater on their own properties because, according to officials, that rain belongs to someone else.
As bizarre as it sounds, laws restricting property owners from “diverting” water that falls on their own homes and land have been on the books for quite some time in many Western states. Only recently, as droughts and renewed interest in water conservation methods have become more common, have individuals and business owners started butting heads with law enforcement over the practice of collecting rainwater for personal use.
Check out this YouTube video of a news report out of Salt Lake City, Utah, about the issue. It’s illegal in Utah to divert rainwater without a valid water right, and Mark Miller of Mark Miller Toyota, found this out the hard way.
After constructing a large rainwater collection system at his new dealership to use for washing new cars, Miller found out that the project was actually an “unlawful diversion of rainwater.” Even though it makes logical conservation sense to collect rainwater for this type of use since rain is scarce in Utah, it’s still considered a violation of water rights which apparently belong exclusively to Utah’s various government bodies.
“Utah’s the second driest state in the nation. Our laws probably ought to catch up with that,” explained Miller in response to the state’s ridiculous rainwater collection ban.
Salt Lake City officials worked out a compromise with Miller and are now permitting him to use “their” rainwater, but the fact that individuals like Miller don’t actually own the rainwater that falls on their property is a true indicator of what little freedom we actually have here in the U.S. (Access to the rainwater that falls on your own property seems to be a basic right, wouldn’t you agree?)
Outlawing rainwater collection in other states
Utah isn’t the only state with rainwater collection bans, either. Colorado and Washington also have rainwater collection restrictions that limit the free use of rainwater, but these restrictions vary among different areas of the states and legislators have passed some laws to help ease the restrictions.
In Colorado, two new laws were recently passed that exempt certain small-scale rainwater collection systems, like the kind people might install on their homes, from collection restrictions.
Prior to the passage of these laws, Douglas County, Colorado, conducted a study on how rainwater collection affects aquifer and groundwater supplies. The study revealed that letting people collect rainwater on their properties actually reduces demand from water facilities and improves conservation.
Personally, I don’t think a study was even necessary to come to this obvious conclusion. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that using rainwater instead of tap water is a smart and useful way to conserve this valuable resource, especially in areas like the West where drought is a major concern.
Additionally, the study revealed that only about three percent of Douglas County’s precipitation ended up in the streams and rivers that are supposedly being robbed from by rainwater collectors. The other 97 percent either evaporated or seeped into the ground to be used by plants.
This hints at why bureaucrats can’t really use the argument that collecting rainwater prevents that water from getting to where it was intended to go. So little of it actually makes it to the final destination that virtually every household could collect many rain barrels worth of rainwater and it would have practically no effect on the amount that ends up in streams and rivers.
It’s all about control, really
As long as people remain unaware and uninformed about important issues, the government will continue to chip away at the freedoms we enjoy. The only reason these water restrictions are finally starting to change for the better is because people started to notice and they worked to do something to reverse the law.
Even though these laws restricting water collection have been on the books for more than 100 years in some cases, they’re slowly being reversed thanks to efforts by citizens who have decided that enough is enough.
Because if we can’t even freely collect the rain that falls all around us, then what, exactly, can we freely do? The rainwater issue highlights a serious overall problem in America today: diminishing freedom and increased government control.
Today, we’ve basically been reprogrammed to think that we need permission from the government to exercise our inalienable rights, when in fact the government is supposed to derive its power from us. The American Republic was designed so that government would serve the People to protect and uphold freedom and liberty. But increasingly, our own government is restricting people from their rights to engage in commonsense, fundamental actions such as collecting rainwater or buying raw milk from the farmer next door.
Today, we are living under a government that has slowly siphoned off our freedoms, only to occasionally grant us back a few limited ones under the pretense that they’re doing us a benevolent favor.
Fight back against enslavement
As long as people believe their rights stem from the government (and not the other way around), they will always be enslaved. And whatever rights and freedoms we think we still have will be quickly eroded by a system of bureaucratic power that seeks only to expand its control.
Because the same argument that’s now being used to restrict rainwater collection could, of course, be used to declare that you have no right to the air you breathe, either. After all, governments could declare that air to be somebody else’s air, and then they could charge you an “air tax” or an “air royalty” and demand you pay money for every breath that keeps you alive.
Think it couldn’t happen? Just give it time. The government already claims it owns your land and house, effectively. If you really think you own your home, just stop paying property taxes and see how long you still “own” it. Your county or city will seize it and then sell it to pay off your “tax debt.” That proves who really owns it in the first place… and it’s not you!
How about the question of who owns your body? According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark office, U.S. corporations and universities already own 20% of your genetic code. Your own body, they claim, is partially the property of someone else.
So if they own your land, your water and your body, how long before they claim to own your air, your mind and even your soul?
Unless we stand up against this tyranny, it will creep upon us, day after day, until we find ourselves totally enslaved by a world of corporate-government collusion where everything of value is owned by powerful corporations — all enforced at gunpoint by local law enforcement.
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/029286_rainwater_collection_water.html
I would like to know if there is a petition circulating, if not I would like to start one.
so if the government owns the rainwater, can they be sued for inclement weather destruction caused by rainwater?
Ok this really freaked me out since I live in Washington state! However good news – I ran out to the government website and found that collecting rainwater is in fact ok in WA! At least for now .. .
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/hq/rwh.html
The fact that states are claiming rainwater as their own personal property is apalling! If they are going to do that then had best be responsible to all the damage ‘their’ rain does when it floods!
Collecting rain water is illegal in many states but Washington is not one of them.
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/hq/rwh.html
Washington State rooftop rainwater collection is legal and encouraged as many cities (even Seattle) have rain barrel programs in place. It was always legal but was clarified in 2009. The problem was only the means and the size of the collector used. Some local authorities have mis-interpreted the law regarding water rights but all that has been clarified. As long as local stream and salmon habitat is not affected then rainwater harvesting is allowed. Rooftop harvesting account for a small percentage of water runoff for the streams and rarely will it affect anything. A home would not collect enough water to ever get guv-mint attention. If it is something other than Rooftop harvesting then the whole thing changes and Big Brother will come knocking.
It’s just what I’ve been trying to get across to the world for years. There is a heirarchy of evil with Satan at the top trying to enslave the human race and then go for the soul. The Bible has the unique necessary and sufficient solution: Build a self-sufficient sovereign city state where people build and own their basic needs such as housing, water and waste infrastructure and solar energy. This will give the existing system competition and people can decide for themselves which side to choose to take their chances.
Furthermore, an interpretation of prophecies in Revelation and Daniel suggests about a seven year time period from the start of construction to a likely upper limit to the Second Coming.
This is the most ridiculous law ive ever heard of on the books anywhere in the usa. rainwater is a fruit of nature and is owned by no one. people have the rights to access the rainwater that falls on their own lands. this is a basic human right evidenced by the fact wildlife does not pay a tax or need a permit to access water or air so neither should we. also it does not hurt anything whatsoever to collect any amount of rainwater in a barrel for peoples use since that rainwater does eventually find its way either down a drain to a treatment plant or to the septic field and back into the ground, or in the case of no sewage system in the area the used water will find its way directly back into the ground, just exactly as it would have if no one had collected it.
This is a very interesting article! I find it very unjustly AND RUDE that “OUR OWN U.S GOVERNMENT” PERFORMS duty for us AMERICAN PEOPLE. What a shame:-( major disappointment in our government. You can’t have my air or land nor my water cause MY TRIBAL PEOPLE WILL STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR WHAT’S RIGHT FOR US AND WHAT IS OURS! LET’S STAND UP TOGETHER AND PROTECT AND FIGHT BACK FOR WHAT’S RIGHT.
I suppose that normal guttering is a lawful diversion of rainwater. Somebody pinch me…….!
Interesting that my comment was erased. Facts, Iguess, do not matter to you if they go against your political agenda.
How do I get this bullshit box of share links off my screen so I can read the article?
Next, will be the air we breathe……just saying. Those large wind fans will be outlawed next.
This is the sort of skewed story that begins by appearing to be news, and then veers off into some crazy anti-government screed that is ostensibly crazy talk, and unsupportable Tea-Party rhetoric.
If one goes to the core of the story, it’s one about greatest good for the greatest number. Government keeping a level playing field, and assuring that all members of a constituency have equal access to a natural resource. If the laws weren’t put in place (100 years ago), in states challenged with scarce water resources, one would surely have seen private parties (corporations, big business, ranchers, etc.) appropriating those resources to their own benefit. “Follow the money”. (Or just watch the 1974 film “Chinatown” to see how public good is usurped by private greed.)
So, this isn’t some recent attempt of “evil government” over-reaching and enacting laws to take away your rights, these were practical measures codified YEARS AGO to protect them.
And as is “reported”, since there is new insight into the dynamics of water, waivers are being granted, statutes re-examined, and change is afoot. For the better. By the Government. Huh, what?
But then as I say, this veers way off into crazy talk. “Programmed to think we need permission…”? An “air tax”? Seriously? This is conspiracy hysterics at its best/worst. Only the dim-whitted are programmed. Only the truly paranoid could asset the inevitability of an “air tax”. If that DID happen, I can assure you, it would be enacted at the behest of Corporations, and Republicans in their pocket marching to the drum of “free-enterprise”. They’ve got a proven track record of ding it.
Report on that.
I’ve heard of this happening – it is beyond stupid. People who collect rain water for various reasons are actually SAVING water.
How do we get rid of such incompetent “leadership?”
Now that’s just crazy!
Fellow Freedom Fighters,
Just to clarify, it is now legal in Washington state to collect roof water in rain barrels. See this link: http://daily.sightline.org/2011/07/14/legalizing-it-your-rain-barrel/
But we still need to continue the fight against tyrants who seek to control every aspect of our lives. Utah and Colorado still have a ways to go, despite being home to some of the largest populations of people interested in sustainable living. Wherever liberty and self-sufficiency arise, the tyrants swoop in to crush independence and assert their governmental dominance.
Keep up the good work, and please don’t stop bringing attention to this critical issue.
Living Free,
-SB
Admin/Editor, SustainingLiberty.com
“Independence. Sustainability. Resilience.”
The gist of the Law is to protect individuals from others who would either divert the water onto someone elses land, to keep it off their property, or to collect the water in a way to keep his neighbor from benefiting from it.
Imagine a man with a creek running through his property. He decides that the water is his, diverts it to his crops. Or to a big pond he just built. But there is a lot of people downstream who also used that water.
The law is designed to protect our natural resources for everyone to use. And properly protect each other from. If you have a swamp, you cannot fill it in, and divert the water to your neighbor. Or if run off from a housing development threatens the highways, they are required to build retention ponds, to keep any fast accumulating water from flooding the highways and causing possible accidents.
But the tea party and the Publicans are either searching for power from stupid people whom than twist the truth in their favor, or they are stupid beyond belief.
Is it illegal to breath the air too?!
NOPE
What about the air?
So most of these laws are very old, but you’re citing them as evidence of modern infringement of personal liberty? Sorry, not going there with you.
This law is crazy !!! Saving rain water helps all !!! Saves All !! There is something very wrong with this picture !
I thought it absolutely crazy at first, but then realized if we capture enough water, the water aquifers will suffer, then there will be water shortages and then we will bear the consequences of drought! No win situation!
If we are using captive rainwater for gardens, washing cars, etc, we are not taking it out of the water system.
This law is bushit.
wow this stupid sharer thing to the left of the screen is making this article unreadable.. there’s no close button either! what the eff?!?!
Can anyone tell me what a US corporation or university did before 1957 that give them 20% ownership in my genetic code? Can anyone also tell me what part of the ocean that evaporated then formed a cloud and than rained on me is or was owned by any state?
The governments of the world aloud the contamination of our food, our water, and our air.. So does that mean we can all lay clam to lots of money from law suits due to our ill health or even our premature deaths?
No one owns the water. It is for everybody. You can collect water for your garden. Just not so much that you keep your neighbor from getting any.
Even if I have a really BIG garden? Who determines my garden’s limit? Where does it stop?
Our government has been stealing our rights for many years. But everyone still thinks we have the best in the world. Iam not sure of that any more. We try to force our democracy on any little country that wil not go along with the way we believe. We also care more about oil than people. They keep sending good paying jobs overseas so the Ceos can say they are making more money for their corporations. I wish they know that is one of our main reasons for this deficit. If we kept those good jobs that our parents and grand parents fought to make safe and a decent living for their families the taxes they pay would help wipe out the problem they as corporate america have caused. Now the corporations run this country. You watch out young Americans it is scarey! I am glad I am getting older but worry for my younger family and friends. Don’t let them take your guns! Our forfathers put that in our constitution for a reason. They never thought that our country would get this way as fast as it has but who can predict the future as it has changed so fast over the last hundred years that it couldn’t have been predicted.
Wow, I had no idea.
Get rid of the FUC|<ING "LIKE" side bar so we can FUC|<ING read the God DAM|\|ED artical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hate to say it but really! It is so annoying!
Try going to a different size on your desktop. Go to your desktop, and right click and go to properties. Click on settings. Then adjust the sizes. If your sizes and appearance is smaller, it will make more room on your screen.
Gee, I suppose the next step will be for the government to claim heating rights from the sun. Nobody will be allowed to install solar panels to collect the heat.
Same as collecting the rainwater, right????
I have never heard anything to foolish in my entire life!!
The people “outraged” at this are ridiculous. This is prior appropriation law, and the intent was not to keep people from collecting rain from their roofs. These laws are a hundred years old, blaming them on Obama is like blaming him for the Civil war.
Interesting read. The headline boldly claims that “it’s NOW illegal” as if the laws were passed recently, but the body states that many of these laws are over 100 years old. Which is it…..
It might be a good idea to do some better in depth research before writing an article designed to scare people. The laws in Utah have changed and went into effect on May 11, 2010. Here is a link to the FAQ on Utah’s water rights, along with a link to the specific bill.
http://www.waterrights.utah.gov/wrinfo/faq.asp#q1
I say let them own the rain water…. Why you might ask why I would be willing to let them take this “right”!!!! Well try this on for size.. If they own it and with the way our law system is going then if it (the rain water) causes damage to your property then you should be able to sue them for the damages….. I bet they wont want to own it for very long if they start getting sued and loosing…. I am sure it you get enough people who are willing to sue they will change the law after the first good law suit…
Sorry, but individuals aren’t allowed to sue the GuvMint!
Make the page wider and the like button will move out of the way.
Indefinite detention without charges is the most important issue facing US citizens at the moment. That law supersedes all rights, collecting rainwater included.
Looks to me like the many internet posts about this episode have blown it way out of proportion. My first problem is with “now illegal”. The statutes and regulations governing public water rights have been in place in the dry western states for many years (in Utah, where this occurred, for 100 years). Regulation of diversion of public waters applies primarily to rivers and streams and underground water. In fact, Utah law has a specific exemption for collection of rainwater “for the beneficial use on the parcel on which the water is collected and stored.” There are certain volume limitations on the storage containers, after which a permit must be sought under the general diversion statutes. See Utah Code 73-3-1.5. The property owner here was a car dealership that collected the rainfall from its large roof to be used for washing vehicles. My guess is that the volume was over the limits because of the large size of his roof. He eventually worked out a deal with the city. My guess is that he would have been able to do that in the first place had he followed the law. These laws have been deemed necessary for a long time in the dry Western states, by the way. They have promoted growth for many years by preventing upstream property owners from effectively monopolizing available water. My point is that this does not seem to be a valid basis for concluding that a totalitarian government is making its move.
There’s noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made sure nice factors in features also.
what idiot thinks it’s cool to have the thing at the left side obscuring text? it’s not worth trying to peek around it to read the article.
Arrest me. I’ll collect all the damn rainwater I want. Screw the commie T-party pedophiles.
While I disagree with the notion that the government, rather than the land owner, “owns” the water that falls from the sky, here is just some food for thought:
These states are diverting and rigorously controlling water supplies because such rivers as the Colorado river are literal lifestreams for other states and US communities and ecosystems. The Colorado river is indeed one of our most vital water systems, and it should be treated with utmost importance.
Again, though, it’s ridiculous that the government thinks it can own the rain. Rather, it should – at very least – make a better effort at explaining the logic behind these laws and getting home and landowners to support measures that are for the good of others and the country as a whole.
This article is really skewed. If governenents don’t control it, pretty soon everyone donwnstream is withought water. You may “get your share” in Colorado, or Utah, but you are going to screw everyone in Arizona who depends on the… ability to pull water (by permit) from lakes and rivers that start in those states – not to mention our brothers to the south (Mexico) who have equal right to water that would normally flow through their country. These laws are meant to protect everyone. Many of these laws were put on the books in the 1800′s to prevent land barons from damming up rivers to create a demand for water that only the land baron would be able to meet (at highly inflated rates).
When I initially commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now every time a remark is added I get 4 emails with the same comment. Is there any means you’ll be able to remove me from that service? Thanks!
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Suggest eliminating (removing from office) those in government who think they have the right to tell what to do with RAIN. These people are ignorant, aberrant, and idiots.
Your complete lack of reading comprehension is astounding.
There is NOTHING ridiculous about this LAW. In America FREEDOM is a Mirage.
Since 2002 Americans has LOST their Collective Freedoms, their had SURRENDERED their Hard Earned Constitutional Rights that their For-parents Sacrificed for and as Such Lost MOST freedoms they Inherited, to their controlling ‘ELITES!’ Your government has FALSELY been Promoting freedoms in Far A-flung lands, in the process, Stripping Americans of theirs. If your Citizenry continues to be PASSIVE, It’s only a MATTER of a SHORT time, before America become Synonymous with places like Iran, Zimbabwe, ‘Chinas’ Tibet,’ etc! Good luck Neighbor, I wish you Well!