Water: Is it God Given or Government Greed?

As I was doing research on the Senate Bill S510, I stumbled upon another law that makes it illegal to collect rain water on your own property.  After purchasing a rain barrel last year, I had to make sure that the rain that falls from heaven was not illegal to collect in the state of Georgia.  Geez, I think this big brother is watching thing is getting out of hand.  Thank goodness, in Georgia it is legal, but for some states it is in fact illegal.  Who would have ever thought that the government could declare itself the legal owner of your rainwater!  The U.S. government has overruled God’s most important free resource by putting a limit on its collection as well as a cost on the rainwater that falls on your property.  Better not open your mouth in a rain storm!

In Colorado and other dry states, such as Utah which is the driest state in the US, water consumption is a major issue. In Colorado, you must purchase a water right in order to utilize a rain barrel and collect rain water.  After living in Colorado Springs for several years, I remember the many times during the summer where I was prohibited from watering plants on certain days.  I had heard about the serious consequences on Fort Carson if caught watering your plants during a “drought day.”  So, let’s break this down.  Why does the government believe they have a right to your water?  The government ensures your water is safe (or tries to anyway).  The taxes you pay for on your water bill goes toward treating, decontaminating and safely storing water for consumption.  So “good water” or drinkable water is NOT free.  This makes sense to restrict “good water” during a drought in order to ensure that every one has good drinking water.  If we didn’t have this luxury, we would live a life of disease and bacterial infections much like those we often see on the charitable commercials asking for donations for water wells and pumps to be built in poor African countries.  However, rain water is untreated water (meaning it has not gone through a treatment facility for direct consumption).  This water should be free to the public just as your freedom of speech and religion.  The government is not offering a service to clean this water and therefore it should be free.  State governments argue that rainwater that is collected would decrease the amount of runoff water that goes back into the water system for treatment.  However, what I’ve found from researching this topic is that only about 3% of precipitation actually makes it back into streams and rivers and ultimately a water treatment facility.  The rest of the water is absorbed by soil, consumed by plants or evaporates back into the atmosphere.  Since little of it actually makes it back into the treatment facility, water is NOT being stolen from the government (which in fact never owned it in the first place).  If you want to use raw rainwater, with no chemicals, chlorine, fluoride or filtration added, why would you need to have permission?  Using raw rainwater or “soft water” where necessary, actually conserves water by taking pressure off the treatment facilities, reducing rain water that goes into the municipal sewers, improves conservation and keeps your garden chlorine and chemical free.  Rainwater, of course, is best for gardens, flowers, shrubs and tress.  Truly, its all about control.  Check with your state to find out if there are rainwater collection restrictions (especially if you live in the mid west).  Using rainwater should be a right, not a privilege as the government wants it to be.  On that note, I plan to hook up my rain barrel this spring and enjoy the resources that God has allowed me to collect on my property.  Happy gardening!