Does anyone harvest rainwater to defy a hosepipe ban?

[LucidEnergy]

Does anyone here harvest rainwater to defy public hosepipe bans?

I am not certain of the law, but I assume it would be fine to use water from a rainwater tank in hosepipes as this isn't coming from the public water system. So i was wondering if these regulations had ever prompted someone to start rainwater harvesting?

[allegrif]

My grandad! He had two great tubs of rainwater he used solely for gardening purposes. I remember we used to take the lids off to look inside though and it was beyond disgusting. Mosquito larvae abound, you definitely wouldn't want to do anything but feed it to your plants.

[LucidEnergy]

Indeed, I think this is why harvested rainwater is generally considered "Greywater" because although it is not as dirty as sewage water, the accumulation of bugs etc make it unsuitable for drinking, even though pure rainwater itself is generally harmless. However you don't need clearn water for gardening, so harvested water is perfect.

[JamesH]

I did, and I even had some nosy person give me hassle about it. Claiming that it was still illegal and that he was going to report me to Thames Water. That's one downside of living on a fairly busy street.

[CuriousGeorge]

[quote author=JamesH link=topic=136.msg392#msg392 date=1448627346]
I did, and I even had some nosy person give me hassle about it. Claiming that it was still illegal and that he was going to report me to Thames Water. That's one downside of living on a fairly busy street.
[/quote]
Why though? How was it affecting his life at all?