Illinois 6. Check with your local authorities to determine which, if any, restrictions are in place. NB74 allows for rainwater collection under a water right grant, which must be used for intended purposes or risk being revoked. Rhode Island plumbing code does state that rainwater may only be collected from above-ground impervious roof surfaces from approved materials. In 2009, we issued a rainwater use interpretive policy, which clarifies that you may use water collected from your rooftop without a water right permit. This map gives federal agencies key information on how rainwater is regulated across the U.S. to help them make strategic decisions on where to implement rainwater harvesting projects. Rainwater harvesting is legal in West Virginia, as long as it's for non-potable use. Exactly how much rainwater you're allowed to collect and use varies across the U.S.for example, under a Colorado law passed in 2016, homeowners are now allowed to catch and use two rain barrels (a total of 110 gallons) from their rooftops, but no more. Home House & Components Parts of House Roof. If you've found this article to be useful and are interested in learning more, be sure to sign up for our newsletter. These states are : 1. Rainwater harvesting must only be used for outdoor purposes and is closely regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in the Environmental Protection Division. Colorado 4. Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged by the State of Massachusetts. Other reasons for government restriction are based on old laws known as prior appropriation, which were implemented as a first-come, first-serve basis for settlers in the Old West. All reservoirs used should be approved, and it should have an approved filter strainer that is disinfected and colored blue or green. If your system has the capacity of more than 5,000 gallons or is used for subsurface irrigation, then a special permit is required. However, in many areas of California, permits are not yet required to collect rainwater because of a recent amendment that was passed by the State Legislature. Some states currently have restrictions on the amount of rainwater that can be collected and how it is collected; however, it is not entirely illegal to collect rainwater in any of the 50 states. Hi Chris. Only two states - Colorado and Utah - heavily regulate rainwater collection and harvesting. Rainwater harvesting is unrestricted as it is the primary source of water for many residents. and offers a rain barrel rebate program. Is It Illegal to Collect Rainwater - Know Your State Laws Rainwater harvesting is highly regulated in Illinois. It's unlikely that rainwater harvesting will become illegal, but you should keep up-to-date with your state's regulations for small rule changes and updates. My passion is to educate others on the reality of the global water crisis and on ways to sustain themselves and their families in the midst of it. In 2016, Colorado lifted their ban on rainwater collection. Rainwater harvesting is legal for both non-potable and potable uses, as long as the water system is providing drinking water to fewer than 25 people (Ohio Rev. Links to technical resources on state-specific rainwater harvesting. Rain water harvesting appears to be legal in every state, Im not sure why you say just about every state?. Retrieved from https://4perfectwater.com/blog/rainwater-harvesting-laws/, Pioneer Water Tanks. There's no federal law against people . Rainwater collection is highly encouraged in the State of Florida with tax incentives and rebate programs being offered by several local municipalities including Manatee County. But the majority of states have no restriction at all while some states even encourage rainwater harvesting with incentives. (2018, February 2). Retrieved from, NCBI. Washington no longer requires a permit to collect water from rooftops, but it still has some pretty strict regulations. While North Dakota does have some strict laws regarding other water sources, rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged for domestic use. Rainwater harvesting is legal, with two laws regulating it. Low pressure/high volume systems work well with rain catchment. The State Law 243 authorized changes in the plumbing code facilitating the use of cistern water in residential and commercial buildings. According to, (2010), a person registered with the Division of Water Resources cannot store more than 2,500 gallons of rainwater. Water Rights Law: Prior Appropriation - FindLaw. Can You Collect Rainwater in Washington? - Save the Drop LA Retrieved from https://corporate.findlaw.com/business-operations/water-rights-law-prior-appropriation.html, NCBI. Oregon's water laws are based on the doctrine of prior appropriation and requires most water surface water uses to obtain a permit. Read also: While South Dakota does have quite a few statutes on water rights, rainwater harvesting is completely legal a long as it doesn't exceed 25,920 gallons of water per day. There was no centralized information source on state-level regulations on rainwater harvesting maintained by a federal agency. It also allows remote guzzlers for wildlife that hold up to 20,000 gallons with a capture area of no more than an acre. allows for the use of green infrastructure practices which includes rainwater harvesting systems. Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting rainwater and storing it for later use. The State of Delaware views rainwater harvesting as sustainable stormwater management and does not have any laws prohibiting rainwater collection but in fact sponsors incentive programs encouraging it. Organizations such as the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) work with state governments in making rainwater collection an available option for its citizens. The plumbing code for each statewhich some states use to regulate domestic rainwater collectioncan also change. Rainwater harvesting is legal in Illinois but with two major statutes. Some of these restrictions believe that the harvesting would disrupt rain's natural flow back into streams and bodies of water on the Earth. Code 3701.344). UnderHouse Bill 3055,the Water for 2060 Act initiates grants for water conservation projects, to serve as models for other communities in the state. A registered person may store no more than 2,500 gallons of rainwater, and an unregistered person may use no more than two containers at 100 gallons or less per container. Code 36.89.080. Reply Ziggity_Zac . Rainwater harvesting coming from your roof is fine in California. Is it Illegal to Collect Rainwater? - Advice from Bob Vila Rainwater harvesting is legal in Oklahoma. Missouri SB 782, Section 640.648 states "landowners shall also have the right to have and use systems for potable water, and systems for rainwater collection. States make their own laws on whether and how individuals can collect rainwater. Retrieved from https://corporate.findlaw.com/business-operations/water-rights-law-prior-appropriation.html, NCBI. Information for the development of this guide was primarily sourced, with permission, from "Rainwater Harvesting" by Dana O. Porter, Russell . Simply installing a system in one's home makes it easy to utilize Earth's hydrological cycle.