Is it legal to collect rainwater?

Question

Is it legal for me to collect rainwater in my garden? Are there any ‘quotas’ on how much I can collect?

Marc · Answer

Yes it is fine there is no limit just hook up a few water butts

Mohsen · Answer

So a homeowner is deemed not to own the rainwater that falls on their property and it must not be harvested. The rainwater belongs to the owners of nearby water rights in the expectation that the rainwater will eventually make its way onto their groundwater supplies.

Paul · Answer

As long as it’s going back into the ground there is no problem. For example using it to water plants.

Anthony · Answer

Yes of course there's no limits to what you can collect and you can use the water for most things such as watering the garden plants feeding pets and supplying toilets

David · Answer

Rainwater harvesting is an efficient way to use water.

Harvested rainwater is rainwater:

collected from roofs and other above ground surfaces
collected via a system of above ground pipes and tanks
isolated from inland waters or groundwater
The Environment Agency will not regulate harvested rainwater provided its use does not harm the environment – either alone or combined with other abstractions or transfers. Rainwater harvesting within a catchment must not affect the normal watercourse flow.

You do not need an abstraction licence to use water that only consists of harvested rainwater. However you may need a water abstraction licence if you combine harvested rainwater with ground or surface water, which you then abstract or transfer.

This regulatory position statement clarifies when you:

can use harvested rainwater without a water abstraction licence
will need a water abstraction licence to abstract or transfer harvested rainwater.

See the Government website for more details.

Dave · Answer

It is not illegal to collect rainwater, you can collect as much as you need

Paul · Answer

No. I do in fact have 7,500L water harvester system in my garden. It is actively encouraged as the downpours we have nowadays causes local flooding

Paul · Answer

Never heard of it to be illegal to collect rain water I have went to plenty jobs to get rid of the rain water that’s caused al sorts of damage to peoples houses so am sure you will be fine

Paul · Answer

Hello Carole,
Yes you can collect rainwater. It belongs to you until it goes into drainage or a water course when it becomes the property of your water utility provider

Regards

Paul

Bob · Answer

Rainwater harvesting is an efficient way to use water.

Harvested rainwater is rainwater:

collected from roofs and other above ground surfacescollected via a system of above ground pipes and tanksisolated from inland waters or groundwater

The Environment Agency will not regulate harvested rainwater provided its use does not harm the environment – either alone or combined with other abstractions or transfers. Rainwater harvesting within a catchment must not affect the normal watercourse flow.

You do not need an abstraction licence to use water that only consists of harvested rainwater. However you may need a water abstraction licence if you combine harvested rainwater with ground or surface water, which you then abstract or transfer.

This regulatory position statement clarifies when you:

can use harvested rainwater without a water abstraction licencewill need a water abstraction licence to abstract or transfer harvested rainwater

Is it legal to collect rainwater?

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