Is it illegal to collect rainwater: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 12:53, 9 June 2023

Rainwater in the United States has not been federally controlled, and has been left to the states' individual police powers. Some states have specific regulations regarding the collection and use of rainwater as listed below.

Legality in the US[edit | edit source]

Describe specifics in the US and then list the legal standing of small scale rainwater catchment.

State	Status (No Regulation/Moderate Regulation/ High Regulation)	Notes
Alabama	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives, technical resources found here
Alaska	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives, technical resources found here
Arizona	Low Regulation	Regulated through the Department of Water Resources; city or town may establish money to fund rainwater harvesting systems; check county for local incentives; more information can be found here
Arkansas	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives
California	High Regulation	Regulated through the Division of Water Rights', which includes specific system requirements and licensing criteria that landscapers must follow to install rainwater harvesting systems; check county for local incentives. More information can be found here, and technical resources can be found here
Colorado	High Regulation	Law HB-1005 allows residential properties of a single house or multi-family residences with four units or less to collect rooftop rainwater up to 110 gallons for outdoor use only (landscape irrigation); in addition, residential properties that are supplied by a residential well can collect an unlimited amount of rainwater (roof collection only) for both indoor and outdoor uses; all other rainwater harvesting applications are not allowed under Colorado State law. More information can be found here
Connecticut	No Regulation	No rainwater harvesting regulations; property development planning resources can be found here
Delaware	No Regulation	No rainwater harvesting regulations
Florida	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations; check counties for local incentives. Technical resources can be found here
Georgia	Low Regulation	Department of Natural Resources', Environmental Protection Division manages water resources; state plumbing code allows rainwater harvesting; check for local incentives. More information can be found here
Hawaii	Low Regulation	Regulated through Department of Health and Safety; more information can be found here
Idaho	Low Regulation	Allowed through a legal clarification made by the Office of the Attorney General; more information and resources can be found here, and here
Illinois	Low Regulation	Local government can regulate rainwater harvesting per state plumbing law; more information can be found here
Indiana	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations; check counties for local incentives
Iowa	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives; more information can be found here
Kansas	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives
Kentucky	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives
Louisiana	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives
Maine	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives
Maryland	No Regulation	No statewide rainwater harvesting regulations; check county for local incentives. Technical resources can be found here
Massachusetts	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives; technical information can be found here
Michigan	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives
Minnesota	No Regulation	No statewide rainwater harvesting regulations; check county for local incentives. Technical information can be found here
Mississippi	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives
Missouri	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives
Montana	No Regulation	No rainwater harvesting regulations, technical information can be found here
Nebraska	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives, technical resources can be found here
Nevada	Low Regulation	Regulated through the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources; water permit required. Regulation information can be found here
New Hampshire	No Regulation	No rainwater harvesting regulations; technical information can be found here
New Jersey	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives; technical information can be found here
New Mexico	Low Regulation	Regulated through the State Engineer Office; no specific requirements exist for outdoor uses; indoor uses must meet quality standards; check county for local incentives. Regulation information can be found here
New York	No Regulation	No statewide rainwater harvesting regulations; check county for local incentives. Technical resources can be found here
North Carolina	Low Regulation	Regulated through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; allowed through state's plumbing code; check county for local incentives. Regulation and technical information can be found here
North Dakota	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives
Ohio	Low Regulation	Regulated through Department of Health and Environmental Protection Agency; codes in place that include system sizing and materials. Regulation information can be found here, and here
Oklahoma	Low Regulation	Encouraged through state legislation: Water for 2060 Act. Regulation and technical resources can be found here
Oregon	Low Regulation	Regulated through the Water Resources Department; specifies only roof surfaces may be used; check county for local incentives. Regulation information can be found here
Pennsylvania	No Regulation	No rainwater harvesting regulations; technical resources can be found here
Rhode Island	No Regulation	No rainwater harvesting regulations or incentives
South Carolina	No Regulation	No rainwater harvesting regulations or incentives; technical resources can be found here
South Dakota	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives
Tennessee	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives
Texas	Low Regulation	Regulated through Water Development Board; Texas tax code section 151.355 provides sales tax exemption of rainwater harvesting equipment; Texas property code 202.007 prevents homeowners associations from banning rainwater harvesting installations; House Bill 3391 requires rainwater harvesting system technology to be incorporated into the design of new state buildings; check county for local incentives. Regulation information can be found here
Utah	High Regulation	Regulated through Division of Water Rights; maximum capacity 2,500 gallons; registration required depending on number of containers and storage capacity. Registration information can be found here, and technical resources can be found here
Vermont	No Regulation	No rainwater harvesting regulations; technical information can be found here
Virginia	Low Regulation	Regulated through Department of Health and the state's 2012 construction code; check county for local incentives. Regulation information can be found here
Washington	Low Regulation	Regulated through Department of Ecology; counties may reduce stormwater rates for buildings using rainwater harvesting; rainwater harvesting off of rooftops does not require a water permit. Regulation information can be found here
West Virginia	No Regulation	No rainwater harvesting regulations or incentives; technical information can be found here
Wisconsin	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives
Wyoming	No Regulation	No rainwater collection regulations or incentives

Global Legality[edit | edit source]

Country	Status (legal/illegal/mixed/other)	Notes
India	Legal	Mandatory in some areas, dependent on community size and regulations vary depending on roof size. Those areas include: Himachal Pradesh, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Port Blair, Chennai, New Delhi, Kerala, Indore, Kanpur, Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Rajasthan, Mumbai, and Gujarat [1]
Mexico	Legal
Australia	Legal	Certain states in Australia have made similar mandatory rainwater regulations to those in India, also varying on roof size. Those states include: Victoria, South Australia, Sydney and New South Wales, Gold Coast, and Queens. [2]
Germany	Legal	Use is restricted to non-potable uses due to concerns about industrial air pollution. [3]

References[edit | edit source]

[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42]

Page data
Authors	Nicole Adler, Lonny Grafman
License	CC-BY-SA-3.0
Language	English (en)
Related	0 subpages, 2 pages link here
Impact	641 page views
Created	September 7, 2018 by Lonny Grafman
Modified	June 9, 2023 by Felipe Schenone
Cite as	Nicole Adler, Lonny Grafman (2018–2023). "Is it illegal to collect rainwater". Appropedia. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
API queries	basic, semantic, html, files, more

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Rainwater]] in the United States has not been federally controlled, and has been left to the states' individual police powers. Some states have specific regulations regarding the collection and use of rainwater as listed below.
+[[File:Rainwater harvesting tank (5981896147).jpg|thumb]]
+[[Rainwater]] in the United States has not been federally controlled, and has been left to the states' individual police powers. Some states have specific regulations regarding the collection and use of rainwater as listed below.
+== Legality in the US ==
-==Legality in the US==
 Describe specifics in the US and then list the legal standing of small scale rainwater catchment.
-{| class="wikitable sortable"
+{| class="wikitable"
-|-
+! State
-! State
 ! Status (No Regulation/Moderate Regulation/ High Regulation)
 ! Notes
@@ Line 17: / Line 18: @@
 | Alaska
 | No Regulation
-| No rainwater collection regulations or incentives, technical resources found [http://www.cchrc.org/rainwater-catchment-systems here]
+| No rainwater collection regulations or incentives, technical resources found [http://web.archive.org/web/20191105161122/http://cchrc.org:80/rainwater-catchment-systems here]
 |-
 | Arizona
 | Low Regulation
-| Regulated through the Department of Water Resources; city or town may establish money to fund rainwater harvesting systems; check county for local incentives; more information can be found [http://www.azwater.gov/azdwr/StatewidePlanning/Conservation2/Residential/Graywater_Rainwater_Harvesting.htm here]
+| Regulated through the Department of Water Resources; city or town may establish money to fund rainwater harvesting systems; check county for local incentives; more information can be found [http://web.archive.org/web/20190307221926/http://www.azwater.gov:80/azdwr/StatewidePlanning/Conservation2/Residential/Graywater_Rainwater_Harvesting.htm here]
 |-
 | Arkansas
@@ Line 33: / Line 34: @@
 | Colorado
 | High Regulation
-| Law HB-1005 allows residential properties of a single house or multi-family residences with four units or less to collect rooftop rainwater up to 110 gallons for outdoor use only (landscape irrigation); in addition, residential properties that are supplied by a residential well can collect an unlimited amount of rainwater (roof collection only) for both indoor and outdoor uses; all other rainwater harvesting applications are not allowed under Colorado State law. More information can be found [http://water.state.co.us/SurfaceWater/RainwaterCollection/Pages/default.aspx here]
+| Law HB-1005 allows residential properties of a single house or multi-family residences with four units or less to collect rooftop rainwater up to 110 gallons for outdoor use only (landscape irrigation); in addition, residential properties that are supplied by a residential well can collect an unlimited amount of rainwater (roof collection only) for both indoor and outdoor uses; all other rainwater harvesting applications are not allowed under Colorado State law. More information can be found [http://web.archive.org/web/20200804133532/http://www.water.state.co.us/SurfaceWater/RainwaterCollection/Pages/default.aspx here]
 |-
 | Connecticut
@@ Line 49: / Line 50: @@
 | Georgia
 | Low Regulation
-| Department of Natural Resources', Environmental Protection Division manages water resources; state plumbing code allows rainwater harvesting; check for local incentives. More information can be found [https://georgia.gov/agencies/georgia-department-natural-resources-environmental-protection-division here]
+| Department of Natural Resources', Environmental Protection Division manages water resources; state plumbing code allows rainwater harvesting; check for local incentives. More information can be found [http://web.archive.org/web/20190111171755/https://georgia.gov/agencies/georgia-department-natural-resources-environmental-protection-division here]
 |-
 | Hawaii
@@ Line 69: / Line 70: @@
 | Iowa
 | No Regulation
-| No rainwater collection regulations or incentives; more information can be found [http://www.rainscapingiowa.org/en/rainscapes/rainwater_harvesting/ here]
+| No rainwater collection regulations or incentives; more information can be found [http://web.archive.org/web/20170403190106/http://www.rainscapingiowa.org/en/rainscapes/rainwater_harvesting/ here]
 |-
 | Kansas
@@ Line 125: / Line 126: @@
 | New Hampshire
 | No Regulation
-| No rainwater harvesting regulations; technical information can be found [https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/stormwater/manual.htm here]
+| No rainwater harvesting regulations; technical information can be found [http://web.archive.org/web/20201016232149/https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/stormwater/manual.htm here]
 |-
 | New Jersey
@@ Line 193: / Line 194: @@
 | Virginia
 | Low Regulation
-| Regulated through Department of Health and the state's 2012 construction code; check county for local incentives. Regulation information can be found [http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/index.php/va-building-codes/building-and-fire-codes/regulations/uniform-statewide-building-code-usbc.html here]
+| Regulated through Department of Health and the state's 2012 construction code; check county for local incentives. Regulation information can be found [http://web.archive.org/web/20190218012512/http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/index.php/va-building-codes/building-and-fire-codes/regulations/uniform-statewide-building-code-usbc.html here]
 |-
 | Washington
@@ Line 212: / Line 213: @@
 |}
-==Global Legality==
+== Global Legality ==
-{| class="wikitable sortable"
+{| class="wikitable"
-|-
 ! Country
 ! Status (legal/illegal/mixed/other)
@@ Line 223: / Line 222: @@
 | India
 | Legal
-| Mandatory in some areas, dependent on community size and regulations vary depending on roof size. Those areas include: Himachal Pradesh, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Port Blair, Chennai, New Delhi, Kerala, Indore, Kanpur, Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Rajasthan, Mumbai, and Gujarat [http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/policy/legislation.htm ]
+| Mandatory in some areas, dependent on community size and regulations vary depending on roof size. Those areas include: Himachal Pradesh, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Port Blair, Chennai, New Delhi, Kerala, Indore, Kanpur, Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Rajasthan, Mumbai, and Gujarat [http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/Policy/legislation.htm ]
 |-
 | Mexico
 | Legal
 |
 |
 |-
 | Australia
 | Legal
 | Certain states in Australia have made similar mandatory rainwater regulations to those in India, also varying on roof size. Those states include: Victoria, South Australia, Sydney and New South Wales, Gold Coast, and Queens. [http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/policy/Legislation_international.htm#aus]
 |-
@@ Line 240: / Line 238: @@
 |}
-==References==
+== References ==
-{{Reflist}}
-{{stub}}
+<references />
 [https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/rainwater-harvesting-regulations-map]
 [http://www.aces.edu/urban/RainwaterCollection/index.php]
-[http://www.cchrc.org/rainwater-catchment-systems]
+[http://web.archive.org/web/20191105161122/http://cchrc.org:80/rainwater-catchment-systems]
-[http://www.azwater.gov/azdwr/StatewidePlanning/Conservation2/Residential/Graywater_Rainwater_Harvesting.htm]
+[http://web.archive.org/web/20190307221926/http://www.azwater.gov:80/azdwr/StatewidePlanning/Conservation2/Residential/Graywater_Rainwater_Harvesting.htm]
 [https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/]
 [https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Planning_and_Development/Energy_and_Sustainable_Development/Rainwater_Harvesting.aspx]
-[http://water.state.co.us/SurfaceWater/RainwaterCollection/Pages/default.aspx]
+[http://web.archive.org/web/20200804133532/http://www.water.state.co.us/SurfaceWater/RainwaterCollection/Pages/default.aspx]
 [https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2721&q=325704&deepNav_GID=1654#download]
 [https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2721&q=325704&deepNav_GID=1654#download]
-[https://georgia.gov/agencies/georgia-department-natural-resources-environmental-protection-division]
+[http://web.archive.org/web/20190111171755/https://georgia.gov/agencies/georgia-department-natural-resources-environmental-protection-division]
 [http://health.hawaii.gov/sdwb/raincatchment/]
 [http://www.harvesth2o.com/adobe_files/Idaho_Ltr%20Sen%20Schroeder%20081108.pdf]
 [http://webpages.uidaho.edu/larc380/new380/pages/harvestRoof.html]
 [http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=SB&DocNum=38&GAID=11&SessionID=84&LegID=54559]
-[http://www.rainscapingiowa.org/en/rainscapes/rainwater_harvesting/]
+[http://web.archive.org/web/20170403190106/http://www.rainscapingiowa.org/en/rainscapes/rainwater_harvesting/]
 [https://mde.maryland.gov/marylandgreen/Pages/Water.aspx]
 [https://www.mass.gov/service-details/demonstration-5-rainwater-harvesting]
@@ Line 266: / Line 263: @@
 [https://droughtresources.unl.edu/water]
 [http://water.nv.gov/]
-[https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/stormwater/manual.htm]
+[http://web.archive.org/web/20201016232149/https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/stormwater/manual.htm]
 [http://njwatersavers.rutgers.edu/]
 [http://www.ose.state.nm.us/WUC/wuc_rainHarvesting.php]
@@ Line 281: / Line 278: @@
 [http://extension.usu.edu/waterquality/urbanstormwater/rain-water-harvesting/]
 [http://dec.vermont.gov/watershed]
-[http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/index.php/va-building-codes/building-and-fire-codes/regulations/uniform-statewide-building-code-usbc.html]
+[http://web.archive.org/web/20190218012512/http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/index.php/va-building-codes/building-and-fire-codes/regulations/uniform-statewide-building-code-usbc.html]
 [https://ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Water-supply/Water-recovery-solutions/Rainwater-collection]
 [https://dep.wv.gov/WWE/Programs/stormwater/MS4/Pages/StormwaterManagementDesignandGuidanceManual.aspx]
+{{Page data}}
 [[Category:Rainwater]]
 [[Category:Engr308 Technology and the Environment]]