This is an update from a previous post that has become so huge I will have to do something, not sure what yet. Anyway, here is the info on Ohio:
Update, February 1, 2014 regarding Ohio:
After checking the Ohio gov’t website, I found nothing stating that rain water harvesting (setting up rain barrels) is against the law. It is encouraged. See see the numerous links that follow:
A rain barrel store in Westlake Ohio sells rain barrels
A rain barrel store in Lima, Ohio sells them
Clermont county, Ohio recommends rain barrels
The city of Cleveland, Ohio recommends rain barrels
The Ohio EPA recommends and funds rain barrels
Ohio has lots of rules about water. Be sure to read up before you start your rainwater harvesting project. It is highly likely that its not against the law to harvest rain water in Ohio, but watch the regulations and read the definitions.
I am evolving my system of roof catchment, moving away from a first flush system to perhaps a direct to cistern inline filter setup consisting of at least 2 5-gallon buckets, 1 bucket of #20 pool filter sand, then the next bucket would be loose activated carbon. Bucket base is perforated and lined with 270 mesh stainless steel to keep sand and charcoal in their buckets.Maybe a holding bucket on top. I would be able to pull the buckets out of line individually for cleaning, and to “disconnect the system for gutter flushing. first flush not really working here in the islands, rain rate is too slow for a self-draining system to work. Also have to design in a way to capture airborne particulates from my wood boiler which is a serious wrinkle. Any comments or guidance?
Not sure. . . . What’s your roof made of? If your’e using galvalume or tile you might be ok with what you describe. Just my opinion. We’ve found lots of nasty hydrocarbons in water runoff from composition roofing. Lots of it is taken out by the diverter, particularly in the summer when it gets really hot here. If your from this area, you know what I mean. We use 2 settling barrels here ahead of filter 1; 55 gallons each to bypass the diverter at times. Having 2 separate containers helps, that’s the only experience we have with water directly from with roof without a diverter. I have read some posts on other blogs about using a “settling” container in conjunction with a cistern. I don’t know about pre-filtering as you describe it. I believe something similar to what you describe is used with larger slow sand filter systems.
Ohio
Ohio allows rainwater harvesting, even for potable purposes. Private water systems that provide drinking water to fewer than twenty-five people are regulated by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Ohio also has a Private Water Systems Advisory Council within the ODH. The nine member council is appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate (Ohio Revised Code §3701.344; Ohio Revised Code §3701.346).