Get your filthy hands off my rain
Who Owns the Rain? Hint: It's Not Always Homeowners
Across the country, resourceful homeowners have embraced rainwater capture as a way of conserving community water supplies while maintaining healthy gardens. Unfortunately, rain barrels are sometimes at odds with the law. Facing certain water scarcity, cities and states have begun to wrestle with the conundrum of water rights versus conservation. When it all shakes out, will you own the rain that falls on your own property?
It all comes down to water rights. If you live in a place that gets lot's of rain you may not be familiar with all the fun that comes with water rates. In dryer areas water rights are a huge deal and if you're a lawyer in the field it will put your kids through sixteen years of private schooling, pay the mortgage, and get you a boat. I know of battles in Idaho have been raging for decades over water rights.
All that being said, is someone going to come get you for collecting a little rain wanter in your yard? Only if you really ticked off the wrong people.