Collecting Rainwater May Be Considered A Privilege, Not A Right (Video)

– Collecting rainwater may be considered a privilege, not a right (End The Lie, May 1, 2012):

If you think you own the right to water that falls on your own property, you could be mistaken.

States such as Utah, Colorado and Washington (more on the various laws later) have had laws on the books limiting property owners from collecting the water falling on their own homes and land since officials say the rain belongs to someone else.

In 2008, Mark Miller of Mark Miller Toyota in Utah, found out some startling information.

In order to make his dealership more environmentally friendly, Miller began collecting rainwater on top of his building in cisterns in order to wash cars with it.

However, state officials said without a valid water right, Miller could not legally divert rainwater.

“I was surprised, we thought it was our water,” Miller said in a news interview.

In the same interview, a state official eluded to the fact that it’s an old legal concept to protect people that have water rights.

Yep that’s right, even with a natural occurrence such as rain, one could technically say it’s being turned into a commodity.

What’s next, state officials saying those who have a garden on their property can no longer garden unless they pay a dirt tax? Just consider how this can be expanded into different areas including air, plants, etc. and I guarantee you will come to some troubling conclusions.

A compromise in this case was, thankfully, reached.

Miller would be using a Salt Lake City water right, and diverting it under their name.

More on this story can be seen in the below video:

Utah news reports that collecting/using rainwater is ILLEGAL

YouTube

Despite the hurdles Miller had to go through to reach a comprise with the state as to water rights, Miller did win a Gold LEED certification.

According to the article, Utah buildings deemed eco-friendly, energy-efficient, appearing in The Salt Lake Tribune on July 13, 2009, writer Steven Oberbeck not only explains the LEED award, but elaborates on how environmentally friendly Miller’s dealership is.

“LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a program of the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council that provides an independent third-party verification that a building was constructed in an environmentally responsible fashion, and is a healthy place to work.”

Imagine that, non-profit and private entities coming together (which exemplifies limited government) could actually help the environment.

What makes Miller’s dealership worthy of the award?

• An innovative skylight system to optimize natural daylight.
• Low-flow faucets and toilets, as well as waterless urinals, to conserve water.
• A cistern system to collect rainwater, which is used to wash cars.
• Exterior cladding and interior finishes made entirely from recycled and other environmentally friendly materials, and
• High-speed doors that provide access for automobiles to the showrooms and services bay. They cut down on the loss of hot or cool air from the dealership, depending upon the season.

“‘It was always our goal to achieve a Gold LEED certification,’ Miller said. ‘Although if I had known at the time what was going to happen to the economy (and the automobile business), I might have thought a second time about making the investment.’”

Now that we know the story, its pertinent to illustrate other state laws.

The information below comes from the National Conference of State Legislators, which “is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation’s 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues. NCSL is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of state governments before Congress and federal agencies.”

Arizona

Arizona has a tax credit for water conservation systems that includes collection of rainwater; however, the credit is slated to expire on Jan. 1, 2012. The credit is equal to 25 percent of the cost of the system. The maximum credit in a taxable year may not exceed $1,000. From 2007 to 2010, over $360,000 has been credited to homeowners that purchased some sort of water conservation system. Arizona Revised Statutes §43-1090.01

Colorado

Colorado had some of the strictest laws in the nation prohibiting rainwater harvesting. In 2009, two laws were passed that loosened restrictions.

CO SB 80 allowed residential property owners who rely on certain types of wells to collect and use rainwater. Colorado Revised Statutes §37-90-105

CO HB 1129 authorized 10 pilot projects where captured precipitation was used in new real estate developments for non-potable uses. Colorado Revised Statutes §37-60-115

Resources:

• Colorado Division of Water Resources outlined information on SB 80
• Colorado Legislative Council Issue Brief on SB 80 and HB 1129 and Rainwater Harvesting in Colorado
• Criteria and guidelines for pilot projects

Illinois

In 2009, Illinois created the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act which relates to water conservation, efficiency, infrastructure and management while promoting rainwater harvesting. Illinois Revised Statutes Chapter 415 §56

Ohio

Ohio allows rainwater harvesting, even for potable purposes. Private water systems that provide drinking water to fewer than 25 people are regulated by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Ohio also has a Private Water Systems Advisory Council within the ODH. The nine member council is appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Ohio Revised Code §3701.344 and Ohio Revised Code §3701.346

Resources:

Ohio Department of Health Private Water Systems website

Oregon

Since Oregon allows for alternate methods of construction of rainwater harvesting systems, the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) created methods for both potable and non-potable systems. Oregon Revised Statute §455.060

Senate Bill 79, passed in 2009, directs the BCD to increase energy efficiency, by including rainwater harvesting, in new and repaired buildings.

Resources:

• Potable Alternate Method
• Non-Potable Alternate Method
• Oregon Smart Guide – Rainwater Harvesting

Texas

Texas Health and Safety Code §341.042 outlines standards for harvested rainwater.

Texas Property Code §202.007 prevents homeowners associations from banning outdoor water-conserving measures, including rainwater harvesting installations. The legislation allows homeowners associations to require screening or shielding to obscure view of the tanks.

Texas Tax Code §151.355 allows for a state sales tax exemption on the purchase of rainwater harvesting equipment.

Resources:

The Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting provides information on the practice and outlines sales tax exemptions at the state and local level (pg. 53).

In 2005, the legislature ordered the creation of a Texas Rainwater Harvesting Evaluation Committee; see here for its 2006 Report to Texas Legislature with Recommendations.

The Texas Water Development Board sponsors the Texas Rain Catcher Award to advance the technology, educate the public, and to recognize excellence in the application of rainwater harvesting systems in the state.

Utah

Utah allows for the direct capture and storage of rainwater on land owned or leased by the person responsible for the collection. If a person collects or stores precipitation in an underground storage container, only one container with a maximum capacity of no more than 2,500 gallons may be used. For a covered storage container, no more than two containers may be used, and the maximum storage capacity of any one container shall not be greater than 100 gallons. Utah Code Annotated §73-3-1.5

Virginia

In 2001, Virginia passed Senate Bill 1416, which gave income tax credit to individuals and corporations that installed rainwater harvesting systems. “There is hereby established the Alternative Water Supply Assistance Fund to be administered by the Department to provide grants to localities to be used for entering into agreements with businesses and individuals to harvest and collect rainwater for such uses as determined necessary by the locality, including, but not limited to, irrigation and conservation.”However money has not been allocated for these purposes.

Resources:

Virginia Rainwater Harvesting Manual

Washington

In Washington, state law allows counties to reduce rates for storm water control facilities that utilize rainwater harvesting. Rates may be reduced by a minimum of ten percent for any new or remodeled commercial building. However, the rate can be reduced more than ten percent, depending on the county. Kitsap County’s Ordinance reduces surface and stormwater fees by 50 percent. Washington Revised Code §36.89.080

Uses for harvested rainwater may include water closets, urinals, hose bibbs, industrial applications, and for irrigation purposes. Other uses may be allowed when first approved by the authority having jurisdiction. Washington Revised Code §51-56-1623

Resources:

In 2009, the Washington Department of Ecology issued an Interpretive Policy Statement clarifying that a water right is not required for rooftop rainwater harvesting.

Washington Department of Ecology Rainwater Collection website

U.S. Virgin Islands

Since 1964, the U.S. Virgin Islands has required most buildings to be constructed with a self-sustaining potable water system, such as a well or rainwater collection system.
U.S. Virgin Island Code Title 29 §308

Now lets switch gears and turn our attention to pending legislation, which also comes from the NCLS site:

2011 Notable Rainwater Harvesting Legislation

State	Bill	Summary
California	A 275 Vetoed	Enacts the Rainwater Capture Act of 2011. Authorizes residential, commercial, and governmental landowners to install and operate rain barrel systems and rainwater capture systems. Requires a local agency to notify a public water system of any permit program and authorizes a landscape contractor to enter in to a prime contract, if it is used exclusively for landscape irrigation.
Illinois	SB 38 & HB 1585 Pending	Provides that plumbing includes rainwater harvesting distribution systems.
New York	AB 6490 Pending	Creates a tax exemption program in two counties for commercial and residential real property owners who purchase or install systems for rainwater harvesting Counties can adopt such an exemption by resolution.
Texas	TX HB 1728 Enacted	Allows a government or school board to pay for an energy savings performance contract to reduce energy and water use at school facilities. Such a contract may include “rainwater harvesting equipment and equipment to make use of water collected as part of a storm-water system installed for water quality control.”
	HB 3372 & SB 1073 Enacted	Relates to rules regarding the installation and maintenance of rainwater harvesting systems that are connected to public water supply systems that are used for indoor potable purposes. These rules must ensure that drinking water standards are met and that harvested rainwater does not come into contact with a public water supply system’s drinking water off location. The law also stipulates that a rainwater harvest system must be installed and maintained by a licensed master plumber.
	HB 3391 Enacted	Rainwater harvesting system technology, for potable and non-potable indoor use and landscape watering, must be incorporated into the design and construction of each new state building with a roof measuring at least 50,000 square feet where the average annual rainfall is at least 20 inches. Promotes rainwater harvesting at residential, commercial, and industrial facilities at the local level and directs that county and municipality staffs be trained quarterly by the Texas Water Development Board.

While I appreciate various states legislatures addressing the concerns of record drought and water supply worries, I’m still a little puzzled.

Even though some states are more restrictive than others with the amount of rain that can be harvested, my whole issue is if the government can still dictate who is guaranteed water rights (and water should be a basic right), then all a person may have is the privilege to collect the water, not the right.

Lastly, if present trends continue, Mike Adams (known to some as “the health ranger”) and editor of NaturalNews.com believes tyranny will transcend over the populace.

Adams elaborated in his online article, Collecting rainwater now illegal in many states as Big Government claims ownership over our water, on July 26, 2010.

“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.”

Even though this article was written all the way back in 2010, the point remains just as true today as it was when it was originally published. Our right to water is still being threatened.

This is also occurring outside of the United States in many third world countries where corporations buy up all the water rights in the country, thus making it illegal for the extremely impoverished inhabitants to actually collect water that they need to survive.

The war against our right to collect water is just one of the many fronts in the federal government’s attempt to eradicate our right to private property. Let’s not forget that this is a truly global problem as well.

Do your part by standing up to this tyranny, fighting it at a local level and sharing this information so this problem can come to the attention of more people around the world.