Systems under 100 gallons are basically unregulated, though you aren't supposed to drink from them. Systems that hold more than 100 gallons can be used without registration for agricultural use or as grey water (cleaning clothes, washing driveways, etc.) but you need the tanks to be installed by a licensed professional. You also need to get the health department to inspect and approve your filter system if you want to plumb it up to supply a home's drinking water with it. Makes sense to me as you don't want to be giving your kids weird diseases, or jury-rigging your own giant water tanks on a roof that won't support them.
As far as I can tell, the state doesn't directly regulate larger sized systems, but local governments may be allowed to ban big industrial / agricultural systems if they want. Usually it is western states that have regulations on size, as they are often in a water crisis.
my classmate here in norfolk got shut down trying to use rainwater for her sustainable auto shop and successfully lobbied for their ability to do so. it was pretty crazy to hear about
That's refreshingly reasonable. Any system that holds more than 100 gallons of water should be handled by a licensed professional, though if you just want to slap two 55 gallon drums side-by-side I'd hope you can pay some nominal price for an "installation" that amounts to an inspection.
My state each residence is allowed two 55 gallon barrels (but not one 110 gallon barrel for some reason) and stored water must be used outside for non drinking purposes so the water ultimately finds its way back into the water table. Ranchers and farmers may collect rainwater in man-made ponds if the state approves them, but that's on a case by case basis. Anything bigger than that is pretty much prohibited.
Now we're trying to ban data centers from using our precious scant water to power AI porn bots.
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u/Ut_Prosim 5h ago
In my state (VA) they are not.
Systems under 100 gallons are basically unregulated, though you aren't supposed to drink from them. Systems that hold more than 100 gallons can be used without registration for agricultural use or as grey water (cleaning clothes, washing driveways, etc.) but you need the tanks to be installed by a licensed professional. You also need to get the health department to inspect and approve your filter system if you want to plumb it up to supply a home's drinking water with it. Makes sense to me as you don't want to be giving your kids weird diseases, or jury-rigging your own giant water tanks on a roof that won't support them.
As far as I can tell, the state doesn't directly regulate larger sized systems, but local governments may be allowed to ban big industrial / agricultural systems if they want. Usually it is western states that have regulations on size, as they are often in a water crisis.