The government of Salt Lake City has undertaken the prosecution of persons who recycle the rain water that falls on their lands. Those who collect such water for use on their gardens, or for household purposes, etc., may be visited by the rainwater police. The city’s rationale is that such recycling interferes with the rights of other property owners who might seek to claim such runoff when it would otherwise come to their lands.
But not to worry about any possible water shortages. In a number of communities – I don’t know if Salt Lake City is one of them – city governments are recycling sewer water – including water from toilets – and pumping it back into city water supplies to be returned to homeowners for drinking, bathing, and cooking purposes!
As Voltaire so wonderfully satirized the Leibnizian doctrine: things are all for the best in this best of all possible worlds. Let us drink to the wonders of our brave, new world, . . . but be sure to use bottled spring water in doing so!
