Is Collecting Rainwater From Your Roof Illegal

The idea of rainwater harvesting usually conjures up images of an old farm cistern or thoughts of developing countries.

Is collecting rainwater from your roof illegal. If you want to collect rainwater without a roof or downspout you can use a tarp instead. If you re installing a new roof for the purpose of collecting rainwater standing seam metal may very well be your best choice. T he green infrastructure for clean water act which relates to water conservation efficiency infrastructure and management while promoting rainwater harvesting. Rainwater for gardening is great for plants and soil health.

Rainwater collection systems can be as simple as collecting rain in a rain barrel or as elaborate as harvesting rainwater into large cisterns to supply your entire household demand. To collect rainwater you can attach a rain barrel to your home s downspout so when it rains the water flows directly into the barrel. 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 however there are rules on using rainwater as a potable drinkable water source. No permit from the state board is necessary.

Collected rainwater may be used to irrigate outdoor lawns plants or gardens. Rainwater harvesting is legal in illinois but with two major statutes. That s because weirdly collecting rainwater is actually illegal in some states. If you collect in tanks from your own roof structures it is not illegal.

House bill 991 2011 amended the homeowners solar rights act it requires that within 120 days after a homeowners association the association shall adopt. Only if it sits for a long period of time without use and without subsequent refills will it go. Also rain water collected in tanks that are used can sit for a very long time because the water gets refilled and replaced by new rains. Just lay the tarp out on an elevated area and run a drainpipe from the lowest corner to a collection tank.

Rainwater collection including the use of rain barrels has become more popular as a supplemental source of water. Such water does not go bad at all. Untreated rainwater collected from roofs is not safe to drink. A high quality enameled roofing material that is easy to clean standing seam metal offers the highest collection efficiency available.

That is roughly a total of 110 gallons and this should only be on their rooftops. However collecting rainwater for landscaping purposes would require a license if a rain capture system is being used to create a water supply swimming pool hot tub fountains ponds a landscaper must be authorized to enter a prime contract for that system. Any container capable of collecting the rain shedding from a roof or patio can be used as a rainwater harvesting system. In summary as we have seen in the article above.