Rainwater Harvesting Illegal???

According to the NY Times today, rainwater collecting has been illegal in Colorado for a long time until just now, although people have been doing it anyway and no one has been stopping them.  It's still illegal in Utah, though, unless you own the water rights to the property. 

An interesting statistic from the article is that 97% of rainfall never reaches the rivers and streams.  It mostly evaporates or is used by plants.  This was a basis for the overturning of the law in Colorado.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/us/29rain.html?em

I know there is a lot of controversy about rainfall collection..esp in desert areas..however at least some people are actually using the rainfall rather than having it all just evaporate..seems using it is better than just losing it.

Last I heard, it was illegal in washington state - with the exception of king county.

we have had rain nearly constantly since the weekend..all day..heavy..but I don't mind..my pond (basically a reservoir) is now filling back up quickly from the drought, everything is greener and I almost wish I had gotten the gutters and french drain in last week..oh well..let it rain !

Man jailed for collecting rainwater in illegal reservoirs on his property
Published August 16, 2012

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/08/16/man-jailed-for-collecting-rainwater-in-illegal-reservoirs-on-his-property/#ixzz2A5IrTcTT

Barbara Rhoads wrote:Man jailed for collecting rainwater in illegal reservoirs on his property
Published August 16, 2012

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/08/16/man-jailed-for-collecting-rainwater-in-illegal-reservoirs-on-his-property/#ixzz2A5IrTcTT

There appears to be quite a bit more to this story... suffice to say, the guy did not get charged and sent to jail out of the blue. From what I've seen, he and the State of Oregon were in a long drawn out fight over his ponds for quite some time. I am certainly not saying he was totally in the wrong for building them, or that he shouldn't have the right to build them... but "the dept of making you sad" didn't just show up out of the blue and lock him in jail.

Yes. He had built dams along waterways to stop the water.
Built docks for fishing boats.

People downstream have a legitimate right to that water.

He was essentially stealing something that didn't belong to him. No different than if he had taken his downstream neighbor's truck.

paul wheaton wrote:Last I heard, it was illegal in washington state - with the exception of king county.

Not since October of 2009:

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/hq/rwh.html

Did anyone have problem in Wisconsin? What if you live in the town and collect Rainwater. If they see it. Would they site you?