Rainwater Collection From Roof Laws

Exactly how much rainwater you re allowed to collect and use varies across the u s for example under a colorado law passed in 2016 homeowners are now allowed to catch and use two rain barrels a total of 110 gallons from their rooftops but no more.

Rainwater collection from roof laws.

In 2016 house bill 16 1005 was passed allowing residents to collect rainwater from a catchment system on their rooftops into two rain barrels with a combined capacity of 110 gallons. Though these collection system permits do not limit the size of the rain barrel the water must be collected from the roof of the primary residence and the rainwater may only be used for the uses allowed under the resident s exempt well permit. It states that any type of rainwater collectors whether from gutters on your roof or any other rainwater drain control infringes on the water rights lawfully belonging to someone downstream. A journal published by the university of north carolina titled rainwater collection water law and climate change.

1 of rain on 1 000 sf roof will yield 623 gallons roof area m2 x precipitation amount mm amount collected liters. Untreated rainwater collected from roofs is not safe to drink. Collected rainwater may be used to irrigate outdoor lawns plants or gardens. 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.

To comply with colorado water law the container must be equipped with a sealable lid. However there are rules on using rainwater as a potable drinkable water source. Storage tanks can be inside or outside above or below ground or partially above and partially below ground see fi gures 1 and 2. Two laws were passed in 2009 which loosened restrictions on rainwater collection allowing residents to use rainwater for non potable purposes.

Rainwater collection calculation formulas and equations roof area ft2 x precipitation amount in x 0 623 amount collected gallons easy formula to remember. Any container capable of collecting the rain shedding from a roof or patio can be used as a rainwater harvesting system. That s because weirdly collecting rainwater is actually illegal in some states. A flood of problems waiting to happen dives much deeper into water rights.

There are regulations about the use of harvested roof water but it is not against the law do do so. A basic rainwater collection system includes a roof gutters or roof drains and a piping system to convey the water to and from a storage tank or cistern. Rainwater collection including the use of rain barrels has become more popular as a supplemental source of water. State legislatures consider factors such as water rights quality standards and public health that rainwater harvesting may impact.