https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/board_info/faqs.h...
It wasn't until 2012 that you were allowed to capture RAIN that fell on your roof.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml...
It wasn't until 2012 that you were allowed to capture RAIN that fell on your roof.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml...
> California's waters cannot be owned by individuals, groups, businesses, or governmental agencies.
A contrast with "Every drop belongs to someone"
Maybe this is an issue is loose language, but it feels like the state owns the water, not individuals? Perhaps the use of the word belongs means state-allocated?
In South Australia which is similarly dry to parts of California, newly built houses are required to have rainwater tanks installed and plumbed to the house (e.g., to flush a toilet, for example).
Americans have a long history of killing each other over water. That tends to result in very defined access rights.
https://www.worldwater.org/conflict/list/
"Water violence in New Mexico over water rights"
"Cattlemen fight Texan landowners for access to water and pasture"
"Many are killed during the Johnson County Water War between competing cattle association over access to water resources and land"
In popular culture:
* Pale Rider - creek is dammed to force the miners off the land.
* Yellowstone - creek is dammed to prevent the building of a subdivision.
This might help explain a bit:
https://www.npr.org/2013/06/15/192034094/rivers-run-through-...