They’ve Made It Illegal To Collect Rainwater In Illinois

A new source claims that collecting rain water in Illinois is illegal... this is only half true.

Yes, this might sound like a strange one, but technically, collecting rainwater isrestricted in Illinois. With the U.S. experiencing its fourth-hottest summer on record in 2024, many people have turned to rainwater collection as a way to conserve water—making this restriction especially surprising.

Nick Cooper - TSM Duluth

What Even Is Rainwater Harvesting?

If you are asking yourself how this works (and don't live in one of the 14 other banned states) Sources go on to state,

Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting and storing rainwater for later use, typically by directing it from a home’s gutters into rain barrels or storage tanks (cisterns). Many homeowners use harvested rainwater for watering gardens, landscaping, or even flushing toilets, helping to reduce their reliance on municipal water.

4u4me

It Is legal To Collect Rainwater, But With Restrictions

If you do not follow these ristrction you are breaking the law, and illegally collecting rain water. The EPA state these two rules.

You can collect up to 5,000 gallons at a time, and the collected rainwater must be used for non-potable purposes only.
The rainwater harvesting system must also be constructed according to the Illinois Plumbing Code, and you need to check with your local municipality to ensure it doesn't violate any specific local regulations.

That second one is important. That rule makes basic rain collection—and even drinking it—basically illegal.