No, there is no federal law banning rainwater collection. Sustainability of Rainwater Harvesting System in terms of Water Quality. The following list contains information gathered from state websites and legislative documents and was current at the time of publication. But because laws are constantly changing, please check with, There are no regulations for rainwater harvesting in the State of, Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in the, Rainwater harvesting is completely legal in. According to House Bill 16-1005, residents are allowed to collect rainwater in two rain barrels with a combined capacity of 110 gallons. Rainwater harvesting is legal in Maryland. Rainwater collection Rainwater collection, including the use of rain barrels, has become more popular as a supplemental source of water. If your system has the capacity of more than 5,000 gallons or is used for subsurface irrigation, then a special permit is required. (n.d.). To fill this information gap, the Federal Energy Management Program compiled state-level information and provided it in this map tool. Santa Fe offers financial rebates for small rain barrels and large cisterns. Every ancient major civilization (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus, Yellow, etc.began with the necessary authority to regulate the allocation of irrigation water. Ohio: In Ohio, rainwater collection is legal but subject to certain restrictions. Before we get further into the issue of whether or not you should collect rainwater, I want to discuss the case of Gary . Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and storage of rainwater, rather than allowing it to run off, to reuse it for on-site purposes. The information in the map is only for statewide regulations. and offers a rain barrel rebate program. The State of Utah authorizes the direct collection of rainwater on land owned or leased by the person responsible for the collection. It is the composting toilet rage once again. Rainwater harvesting is legal in West Virginia, as long as it's for non-potable use. The State of Alaska does not restrict rainwater harvesting as it is a primary source of water for many residents. There are no restrictions or regulations on rainwater harvesting, and it is highly encouraged by the state. Rainwater harvesting is legal in Ohio, even for potable purposes. A policy of prior appropriation ensued, as did subsequent laws that have changed over the years. (2012) creates a tax credit to individuals or businesses for the installation of a cistern to collect rainwater. You can literally go to jail for running afoul of state/local laws about rainwater collection. Most residents in Alaska are highly recommended to begin collecting rain, as it could be a primary source of water for a sufficient number of households. Rainwater harvesting is legal in Wisconsin. Some of the potential reasons include: - Rainwater may contain pollutants that can contaminate the water supply. 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. Rainwater harvesting is legal in New Jersey. Also, if the water being collected is used primarily for drinking in a new building, check with your county to see if that is allowed. House Bill 609 states that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will provide statewide assistance and ensure the best water reuse and rainwater harvesting practices. US citizens who want to set up a rainwater harvesting system in their backyard can do so without the fear of legal consequences provided that they adhere to their state's guidelines. Portland offers stormwater rewards for rain collection as well as the downspout disconnect program. According to this bill, rainwater can be collected for domestic purposes as long as it's not for potable use. It's been believed that the collection of rainwater would halt the rainfalls natural flow into the earths aquifers and streams. There are no rainwater harvesting restrictions or regulations. All rainwater systems should be inspected, and can only receive water from the roof of buildings or other catchments. Nashville offers a stormwater management manual. In fact, it is encouraged as a viable water conservation method. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/research/environment-and-natural-resources/rainwater-harvesting.aspx, Perfect Water. It is therefore not illegal and is strongly encouraged to collect rainwater in Mississippi. Rainwater harvesting is legal in Missouri and highly encouraged. Hi Chris. It used to be illegal to collect rainwater in Nevada, but a 2017 bill permits rain collection for non-potable domestic use. Retrieved from. For awhile, Colorado had strict harvesting regulations due to the senior water rights. Colorado, the state with arguably the strictest rainwater harvesting laws, passed a bill in 2016 allowing for the collection of rainwater with a 110-gallon maximum capacity. However, rainwater harvesting when collected on a rooftop does not require a permit. Therefore, the laws around rainwater harvesting can be If you've found this article to be useful and are interested in learning more, be sure to sign up for our newsletter. Sustainability of Rainwater Harvesting System in terms of Water Quality. RELATED: All You Need to Know About Dry Wells. It's not necessary for the state board to issue a permit. If you werent given a water rights transfer from the previous owner, you need to apply for water rights, accompanied by an appropriate fee. The State of Utah authorizes the direct collection of rainwater on land owned or leased by the person responsible for the collection. While there are a handful of states that have strict regulations and require permits, most states are trending towards favoring and encouraging private rainwater catchmentsome states even offer financial incentives and tax rebates to do so. Rai. Illinois 6. Thats right he made three separate bodies of water from the water he collected. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Preparing for water crises with small-scale, resilient strategies, In Rainwater Harvesting by Jeremiah CasteloUpdated: February 19th, 2021 Published: February 18, 20215 Comments. Colorado 4. Also, municipalities are usually the parties that restrict collection, not the state. The Soak Up the Rain project is a community program that encourages rainwater harvesting. Kansas allows water collection, but like Alaska you need water rights to do so. These projects may include community conservation demonstration projects, recycling and reuse of water, and information campaigns on capturing harvested rainwater. 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 collection of rainwater had remained illegal in Washington for many years due to old time water laws that were implemented in semi-arid Western States. New York State Rainwater Harvesting Guide 2015. (2012) creates a tax credit to individuals or businesses for the installation of a cistern to collect rainwater. (2018, May 31). No permit from the state board is necessary. (2014, February 18). For many years, it was legal to purchase but not to use rain barrels in Washington. This amendment will be effective on January 1st 2020. Rainwater harvesting is legal in Oregon, but may only be collected from a catchment system on rooftop surfaces. If you've found this article to be useful and are interested in learning more, be sure to sign up for our newsletter. Kentucky does not have any restrictions on rainwater collection. According to this bill, rainwater can be collected for, (2010), a person registered with the Division of Water Resources cannot store more than 2,500 gallons of rainwater. (2018, September 13). Rainwater harvesting is legal in Missouri and highly encouraged. Laws regarding rainwater collection are subject to change as climate changes and drought become more of a concern. Most states have shifted their laws in favor of private rainwater harvesting. The State of Hawaii does not have any restrictions on rainwater harvesting but in fact highly encourages it. Other reasons for state restriction are based on laws known as prior appropriation, which were implemented as a first-come, first-serve basis for settlers in the Old West. The University of Delaware offers a guide for rainwater harvesting. But for some, collecting rainwater has even landed them in the slammer. It is also defined as any of various games played on a pool table having 6 pockets. Rhode Island plumbing code does state that rainwater may only be collected from above-ground impervious roof surfaces from approved materials. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, catching rainwater or rainwater harvesting can affect quality standards, public safety and water rights. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources provides information on stormwater on their website. I'm Jeremiah Castelo, the owner of World Water Reserve. Back in 2012, one man in Oregon collected 13 million gallons of water and created three reservoirs on his property from rainwater harvesting. Thanks for coming by! Fortunately for you, we've broken down the major statutes for each state regarding rainwater harvesting. Property owners can purchase groundwater as a water right. Due to the cold climate, certain precautions may need to be considered when collecting rainwater in Alaska. Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged. There is no state in the US where collecting rainwater is illegal, but there are states that have restrictions around rainwater collection. This includes a comprehensive review of alternative sources of water, including capturing rainwater amongst other things. I utilize my multimedia and communication experience in the NGO and humanitarian fields to bring light to important topics. The links in blue are invaluable. - Rainwater may not be potable (safe to drink) - Rainwater collection may interfere with the proper functioning of the drainage system. There was no centralized information source on state-level regulations on rainwater harvesting maintained by a federal agency. Be sure to check local laws before investing in a rainwater collection system. Groundwater harvesting, however, is regulated and can be purchased as a water right. Rainwater collection is highly encouraged in the State of. Sustainability of Rainwater Harvesting System in terms of Water Quality. No, it is not illegal to collect rainwater in Michigan. If there are health effects regarding that water, the municipality or the owner cannot be held liable for the consumption of that water. Senate Bill 32 states that the person must be registered with the Division of Water Resources if they plan to collect up to 2,500 gallons of rainwater. House Bill 2830, through the Department of Water Resources, allows for a city or town to establish a fund for rainwater harvesting systems. Mississippi is one of the wettest states. Rainwater harvesting is completely legal in New Hampshire and is in fact encouraged by the state, offering information on rain barrel design. Rainwater harvesting is considered a private property right. According to, (2010), a person registered with the Division of Water Resources cannot store more than 2,500 gallons of rainwater. But in more than a dozen states, it actually is. If unregistered, no more than two containers may be used, and the maximum capacity of any one container may not exceed 100 gallons (Utah Code Ann. For Jones, who is gay, the past two years have been emotionally draining as Florida passed a flurry of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Rainwater harvesting is legal in Illinoisbut with two major statutes. Testing the water can determine if there are harmful germs, chemicals, or toxins in it. Rainwater harvesting is legal in North Carolina with a few regulations. Most states allow citizens to collect rainwater and even encourage them to do so. (n.d.). Rainwater harvesting coming from your roof is fine in California. Rainwater collection is legal. Montana State University offers a guide to rainwater harvesting. Rainwater Harvesting Regulations Map | Department of Energy. The state requires permits for anyone who wants to construct, operate, or modify a water well or a water collection system, which includes rainwater collection. Code 3701.344states that private water systems that provide drinking water to fewer than twenty-five people are regulated by the Ohio Department of Health. The bottom line is, you must have a water rights permit to use public water in Oregon, but exceptions are in place . This also includes developing best management practices for water reuse, harvesting and greywater use. 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. The Federal Government does not have any laws or restrictions regarding rainwater harvesting. The University of Toledo offers rainwater harvesting resources. Their municipal guide encourages rainwater harvesting and provides education resources. (n.d.). Rainwater harvesting is legal and promoted by several universities in the state. The Bill states that residential, commercial and governmental landowners may install, maintain, and operate rain barrel systems and rainwater capture systems for specified purposes. Some states take more of an active role than others when it comes to rainwater collection. Appendix C-1 talks in detail about rainwater recycling systems. The rainwater harvesting is legal in Indiana. Rainwater harvesting is legal in Illinois but with two major statutes. Retrieved from http://www.enlight-inc.com/blog/?p=1036, Find Law. The answer depends on what state you are in. Energy.gov. But because laws are constantly changing, please check with your state for further information. Read on to understand the reasons for restrictions on collecting rainwater, and review various states rules. In 2012, the State of California passed Assembly Bill 1750, which enacted the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012, making it legal to collect rainwater so long as in compliance with the California State Water Resources Board requirements. What is rainwater harvesting? The Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act which relates to water conservation, efficiency, infrastructure, and management while promoting rainwater harvesting. The rainwater collection amount that states with restrictions allow can vary: Colorado allows only a total of 110 gallons, while Illinois permits residents to harvest up to 5,000 gallons without a permit. Legislative Committee on Public Lands will conduct studies on water conservation and alternative sources of water for communities in the State. Residents of Washington state may harvest rainwater without a permit as long as: TheWashington Department of Ecologyissued an Interpretive Policy Statement clarifying that a water permit is not required for rooftop rainwater harvesting. In fact, Alabama A&M and Auburn University extension services published a document encouraging the practice of rainwater collection, providing technical instructions and guidelines. State legislatures established rules on catching rainwater, and what you can or cant use the water for. States make their own laws on whether and how individuals can collect rainwater. House Bill 2830 allows cities and towns to establish a fund for rainwater harvesting systems. Reply Ziggity_Zac . The City of Philadelphia offers stormwater grants for responsible rainwater collection. The State Law 243 authorized changes in the plumbing code facilitating the use of cistern water in residential and commercial buildings. Washington County offers incentives for water conservation on property. The State of Utah authorizes the direct collection of rainwater on land owned or leased by the person responsible for the collection. If unregistered, no more than two containers may be used, and the maximum capacity of any one container may not exceed 100 gallons (, Rainwater collection is legal in the State of Washington and even authorizes counties to reduce rates for stormwater control facilities that utilize rainwater harvesting, by 10 percent or more according to. The WV Department of Environmental Protection offers guidelines on how to build a rain barrel as well as a stormwater management manual. While some areas in the Coast Range receive more than 200 inches of rainfall a year, approximately 60 percent of Oregon is desert, receiving less than seven inches of rain annually. A state income tax credit of 10 percent of the cost of installing the cistern is credited to those who participate. Ohio Department of Health offers plans for developing rainwater harvesting systems. OSU offers design systems for rainwater harvesting. Since rainwater collection isnt regulated by federal law, its important to stay current on local guidelines. The map ranks the states based on level of rainwater harvesting regulations, using the following categories: Very Limited: The state has limited exemptions available for legal implementation of rainwater harvesting Not Illegal/No Regulations: No regulations are in place prohibiting rainwater harvesting. Some states such as Colorado still have restrictions in terms of how the rainwater is used and how much of it can be collected, and laws are always changing. The Federal Government does not have any restrictions on rainwater harvesting. Rainwater collection is legal in Louisiana and in fact, encouraged. 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. The potential for rainwater harvesting is dependent on location, elevation, and precipitation. We will do our best to keep this list updated. Colorado residents can now harvest rainwater with restrictions. In 2018, the State of California passed SB-558, which excludes property taxes from the new construction of a rainwater harvesting system. It is good water and better than well water if you can collect enough. Since water rights vary from state to state it's important for you to check with your own state's legislation before setting up your rainwater harvesting system.