One of the most important preparations you can have as a prepper is the ability to replenish your water storage supply.
Regardless of how much water you have stockpiled, there’s always a chance that your supply will run out or that your supply will become contaminated in the event of a power grid down disaster scenario where water stops coming out of the faucets.
For situations like this, it’s wise to have the systems in place that can replenish your water supply so you can be truly self-sufficient, and harvesting your own rainwater is one of the easiest and simplest ways that you can do so.
But in some states, it’s not so simple. While rainwater harvesting is totally legal and unregulated in most states, there are a few states where rather tight restrictions are in place that you should be aware of.
The reason for this is because since water availability and qualities can vary greatly across the United States, certain states have regulations in place that are intended to find a balance between protecting water sources while also protecting the rights of property owners.
Here are the states where harvesting rainwater is restricted or otherwise regulated:
Arkansas
In the state of Arkansas, all rainwater harvesting systems must meet local plumbing codes and be designed by a certified engineer who is licensed within the state. The engineer must make sure that the harvesting system is designed with cross-connection safeguards and is in compliance with the Arkansas Plumbing Code.
Related: The First Water Source That Will Disappear in a Crisis
Additionally, the water harvested can only be used for non-potable use, meaning that it cannot be used for drinking but can be used for other purposes, such as bathing or cooking.
Colorado
Colorado arguably has the strictest rainwater harvesting laws in the United States. Residents of Colorado are only allowed to collect rainwater with a maximum of two rain barrels that together have a capacity of 110 gallons.
Furthermore, this water can only be used for outdoor purposes (such as watering crops or gardens) on the property where it was collected. It may not be transported outside of the property.
Georgia
Similar to Colorado, Georgia mandates that any rainwater harvested can only be used for outdoor purposes.
Idaho
In Idaho it’s perfectly legal to harvest rainwater, with the only caveats that the rain cannot first have entered a natural waterway (such as a stream or river) and as long as the process of collecting the rainwater does not interfere with the water rights of other individuals and property owners.
Illinois
Illinois is another state that has strict rainwater harvesting laws. In Illinois, any rainwater harvested can only be used for non-potable purposes, so it can’t be used for drinking but can be used for tasks such as watering gardens, cooking, or personal hygiene use.
All rainwater harvesting systems must also be constructed in strict accordance with the Illinois Plumbing Code.
Kansas
Kansas requires you to obtain a permit to harvest rainwater that isn’t used for household purposes. For example, if you plan on using your rainwater for drinking, watering your pasture or livestock, or for watering your gardens or crops you won’t need to obtain a permit.
If you plan on using the rainwater outside of your household, such as offering it to another family for instance, you will need to obtain a permit to proceed.
Louisiana
Rainwater harvesting is fully legal in Louisiana, but certain jurisdictions require that covers be permanently set up over water collection tanks or cistern.
Nevada
It used to be illegal to harvest rainwater in Nevada, but it no longer is so long as the water is only used by the household that collected the rainwater and as long as that water is only used for non-potable uses such as gardening or personal hygiene.
Related: How to Build Self-Watering Raised Garden Beds
Ohio
Rainwater harvesting is fully legal in Ohio for both potable and non-potable uses, but the only regulation is that each rainwater harvesting system can only provide potable water to a maximum of 25 people.
Seeing as much as most households have far fewer than 25 people in them, this shouldn’t be an issue for most families.
Oregon
Rainwater harvesting is legal in Oregon so long as the rainwater is only collected via a rooftop system. It’s a major misconception that it is not legal to harvest rainwater in Oregon.
Texas
Rainwater harvesting is legal in Texas so long as each rainwater collection system is incorporated into the design of the home or building that is collecting it. Furthermore, each household needs to submit a written notice to their local municipality stating their intent to harvest rainwater.
Utah
Rainwater harvesting is legal so long as it is done by a person who is registered with the state’s Division of Water Resources
So long as the person owns or leases the land where they are collecting the rainwater. This person can only store a maximum of 2,500 gallons of rainwater at one time.
A person who is not registered with the Division of Water Resources can only store a maximum of 200 gallons of water between two containers, with each container having to be a maximum of 100 gallons.
In other words, you can’t store 200 gallons if it’s divided into a 120 gallon and an 80 gallon container.
Washington
Like Oregon, it’s another major misconception that rainwater harvesting is illegal in Washington state.
Rainwater harvesting is legal so long as it is collected on a structure that has a purpose besides collecting rainwater (so setting up a rainwater harvesting system on an ordinary home is legal) and so long as the rainwater is only used on the property where it was collected, meaning that it cannot be transported outside of the property.
Rainwater harvesting may not be totally illegal in these states, but as you can see, there are some states where there are a few rules you’ll need to keep in mind.
Moreover, if you want to ensure that the water you’re collecting for your and you family is safe to drink, proper filtration is key.
Learn here how to build an efficient and affordable rainwater harvesting and purification system that can store up to 165 gallons of water. This setup not only meets regulatory standards but also ensures you have clean, potable water for you and your family.
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