Is Collecting Rainwater Legal in Iowa? Here’s What You Need to Know

Always prioritize safety! While social media can be a fun way to share ideas, not everything that goes viral is accurate. One common misconception circulating online is that collecting and harvesting rainwater is illegal. Popular TikTok channels dedicated to rainwater collection often receive numerous comments claiming it's against the law—but is there any truth to these claims?

What Is Rainwater Harvesting?

For many years rainwater has been used in many different ways, Iowastormwater.org went on to say,

Historically and in many developing countries still today, many homes use a cistern to capture rainfall for household purposes. Rain water harvesting, like the cistern, is the process of collecting rainwater and storing it for later use. Storage methods range from small barrels to large underground storage tanks. It is a valuable water management practice that is greatly underutilized.

With the usual amount of rain in Iowa, this is the perfect state to get started.

Laws On Collecting Rainwater In Iowa

The regulations on rainwater collection in Iowa are straightforward. Most laws in the state are either quite simple or nonexistent, and in this case, it’s the latter.

At the time of writing this Iowa has no regulations or laws against rainwater harvesting. According to multiple sources including 4perfectwater.com, you're good to collect that rain.

With a great history and no regulations in Iowa, it looks like you're all set to start harvesting Iowa, but please keep in mind that there are safe ways to collect this rainwater. You can learn more here. Stay safe Iowa, and have fun with your new hobbie.