New bill would "let" residents capture rainwater.

[Charger_Fan]

Ok, this is THE most rediculous thing I've heard since 7:00 this morning.
They'll allow someone to keep rainwater that falls in THEIR OWN yard?? Not that I've ever toyed with the idea of storing my own rainwater...but OF COURSE I'm gonna keep it, if I want to! Why would I even think it's not ok for me to keep my own rainwater? Who thinks up this crap?

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=5512556

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A proposal to let residents capture the precipitation that falls on their property has won committee approval at the state Legislature.

State law says that rainwater is considered state property because it feeds waterways and recharges underground aquifers.

Senate Bill 128, sponsored by Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, would allow individuals to collect and store up to 2,500 gallons of rainwater at one time.

A committee unanimously approved the measure Wednesday for debate in the Senate.

Boyd Clayton, deputy engineer for the Utah Division of Water Rights, says water officials could have a hard time enforcing the limit. He says the measure also could raise issues about other types of water use.

[PocketThunder]

What is this world coming to?       You know whats next dont you Grant?  They will have on county record the size of everyones water tank and then start taxing you on the size of your tank.   

[Dans 68]

                          

...and to think sunlight also falls onto your property. Just give 'em time....

Dan

[bakerhillpins]

I was going to go with Air, but Sunlight is a great idea for an addition to the bill.

Never underestimate the power of stupidity! 

[WingCharger]

I think that is a bit ridiculous.

[Shakey]

Honestly, I've considered using rain barrels on my property in the city to collect the rain water and use that for watering the lawn and garden when we go through a dry spell in the summer.  I have thought about it, but have yet to do anything about it.

[Charger_Fan]

I tried to make any sort of logical sense of this, during the hellish commute to work this morning.
Ok, so let's say that if every house in the city suddenly started collecting rainwater in 1,000 gallon barrels (like that's even mildly realistic), then yes, I could see that it would possibly have an adverse effect on the city's water table, over time.

However...

After every homeowner in the city collects as much rain water as he can manage...what's he going to DO with that water? Keep it forever? Truck it out of state? I have a hunch that he's probably going to water his lawn, plants, etc. Where is that water going to end up after watering the lawn & plants?
BACK IN THE WATER TABLE, YOU MORONS!!

So, in the immortal words of Capitan What's-his-name in "The Outlaw Josey Wales"..."don't piss on my back & tell me it's raining".

[Dans 68]

"Captain Fletcher". One of Clint's best movies....


Dan

[Charger_Fan]

That's him. I agree, it's a great show.

[Ghoste]

If the rainwater belongs to the state then residents should have the ability to charge the state for using their private property for a public function.

[Todd Wilson]

I think I would sue the state if my roof leaked and the rain water damaged my house. If the state could control their water a little better, damage would not have occured.


Todd

[The70RT]

Sounds pretty crazy. We have to pay for water runoff here. They use the square footage of your roof and concrete / asphalt. The more water that you get rid of the more they charge 

[rav440]

I think I would sue the state if my roof leaked and the rain water damaged my house. If the state could control their water a little better, damage would not have occured.


Todd

[Old Moparz]

It's a conspiracy. The Government, UCLA, Home Depot, Mexico, China, & Coca Cola, are all behind the push to collect the rainwater.

The U.S. Government will grant UCLA the money to do a 2 year study on how the rainwater collection benefits everyone. They will provide a $100 tax credit to each property owner that has a rainwater collection system as an incentive to install one to lower municipal output & usage. The credit is only good on systems capable of collecting & holding a minimum of 500 gallons in a one year time period, but the credit is void if the Environmental Protection Agency issues you a fine for collecting more than the limit they set.

The local government agencies, like towns, villages, & cities, will charge $50 for permit & inspection fees. The Environmental Protection Agency will charge another $50, but you'll have to add $25 more if the system is going to collect more than 300 gallons in a one year time period, $50 if it collects more than 400 gallons, & it can't be for personal use or distributed to an unauthorized water collection company. A fine of $500 will be issued if you collect more than 500 gallons in a one year time period.

China will provide the cheap, inadequate equipment for each collection system at each property, but will only be sold through an approved supplier buying in high volume like Home Depot. There will be a meter on the system to track the amounts of rainfall & the amount stored. Mexico will provide the cheap labor to install the system, & Coca Cola will process & bottle the water, to sell as a new product called "Rain Bucket Powerade" at $2.00 per 20oz. bottle.

The positive side, is that each bottle will have a mandatory deposit so kids & homeless people can contribute to a cleaner society.

[hemigeno]

I think I would sue the state if my roof leaked and the rain water damaged my house. If the state could control their water a little better, damage would not have occured.

Along those same lines, the building codes require some building owners to spend tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars to install stormwater retention systems.  If the gov'mit owns the water, let them pay to control it.

Yeah right...   

Oh, and Bob, you're a genius!

[Sublime/Sixpack]

I didn't realize that capturing rain water was against the law here in Utah, but with Utah being the 2nd most arid state in the nation it seems that trying to capture a significant amount of rain water on ones property would be hardly worth the effort.   

[Silver R/T]

it's damn politicians, thinking of way to rip off hard working people.

[The70RT]

Like I was stating that they charge us for run off. The big stores with big parking lots get really hit. The problem is a small creek in our area floods more and more each passing year. A couple years ago it flooded hundreds of homes. Then the pump station for our sewer got submerged and flooded thousands of homes. Everyone got 2-3 feet in their basements. Most of the water comes from more development thus requiring more streets where most the runoff comes from. It seems they screw you either way.

[RallyeMike]

My guess is that the mathematics will tell you that the people collecting, or who will be collecting rainwater, amount to spit in the ocean when it comes to the % of rainwater effected by these moronic laws.

This is why there are always plenty of government jobs available - You just make stuff up to keep yourself busy and of importance 

[ITSA426]

Trespassers?