distill rain water
of course I can’t do this in God-forsaken Virginia
but it is a good idea for everyone else.
Why not ?
“but it is a good idea for everyone else.”
I have a reverse osmosis system.
However you are correct that it can be tricky. The problem boils down (ha ha) to where the water was collected from and where it will be used, and interconnection with potable water systems.
For example, collecting rainwater from streets, parking lots, and pavements is discouraged for potable use because of toxins. Rainwater from roofs and hard surfaces is deemed probably acceptable for potable use. Interconnection with potable systems will require a backflow valve to prevent rainwater from entering treated water system. Water for agricultural use does not have to follow the same guidelines.
Also mosquito and insect infestations must be addressed as well as possible micro organism contamination in potable supplies. Most older rural homes will actually have a cistern for water collection (mine does).
Generally it seems most of the regulations are common sense, and equivalent to the NEC electrical code.
Rainwater collection is encouraged in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Can’t you sneak around and do it anyway? Like in Claremont Calif you had to get PERMISSION to cut off a DEAD LIMB. Better it fall and kill a bunch of kids walking down the sidewalk to the 4th of July celebration at the park on Indian Hill.... So our gardener said he would cut them down in the middle of the night if they posed a danger!
A huge one fell on 4th July 2013 across street from our house. Fortunately it was early in the day. a couple of hours later that huge limb as big as a tree would have killed a lot of people. It was over 10ft long. big around as a horse.