Collecting rainwater is very popular among many Americans. Many refer to it as rainwater harvesting, but Is it legal to do?

There’s been a widespread belief online that collecting and harvesting rainwater is illegal. Popular TikTok channels dedicated to rainwater collection often get bombarded with comments saying it’s against the law. But is there any truth to these claims?

Rainwater gutter downspout with water pouring out onto cement
KaraGrubis
loading...

Is It Illegal To Collect Rainwater In Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, there are no laws preventing rainwater harvesting,  but some sources do state a few potential rules that control what you can and cannot do with the collected water. You can learn more here.

The short answer is that rainwater harvesting is legal.

View of the street surface during rain.
4u4me
loading...

When it comes to collecting rain water there are no regulations in Wisconsin. 

Thankfully many states are like Wisconsin in their regulations (as in there are none) but states like Arkansas do have regulations. California may install, maintain, and operate rainwater capture systems for specified purposes. Illinois is also highly regulated according worldpopulationreview.com.

Rainwater Harvesting

For many years rainwater has been used in many different ways, many sources state the following,

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.

Good luck on your next rain collecting experience, and stay safe! You can learn more here.

Signs a Long Hard Winter is Ahead

Have you seen any "evidence" of a harsh winter ahead? Let's take a look at some Midwest folklore stories that could predict how early or rough our winter will be.

Gallery Credit: Bill Stage

More From US 104.9