No matter where you reside or what bad situation you’re preparing for, you’ll be able to never have enough water.
Whether you are coping with the aftermath of a natural disaster or unrest causing an influence outage or pollution, having tons of water available and the power to refill it’s invaluable.
This is where rain catcher systems are available in. Simple, elegant and really effective…
But did that some states actually restrict and even ban residents from using this ancient technology? Or perhaps Kansas? Is rainwater harvesting illegal in Kansas?
No, rainwater harvesting in Kansas will not be illegal and customarily there are hardly any laws related to this topic. However, water rights are a serious matter within the state, and rainwater harvesting must not interfere with the water rights of others.
In general, in Kansas there may be nothing stopping you from installing and using harvested rainwater for whatever purpose you would like. Apart from local laws and codes, almost anything is allowed.
And even though it’s unlikely, you continue to have to be sure that that collecting and using rainwater won’t interfere with other people’s water rights, especially in the event that they had theirs before you bought yours.
It’s not too complicated, and I even have quite a bit more to say about it. Read on…
Is rainwater harvesting illegal on the state level in Kansas?
No, collecting rainwater in Kansas will not be illegal under state law. Kansas does quite well in encouraging residents to gather rainwater as an environmentally friendly technique to conserve water and mitigate stormwater pollution washouts, though the state is already very “water-rich.”
The state has no specific laws for or against rainwater harvesting, but have in mind that collecting and using rainwater must not interfere with the water rights of others.
Kansas takes its residents’ water rights seriously! Violation of this law can result in serious legal consequences and even imprisonment, so it is vital to be sure that the gathering doesn’t violate anyone’s water rights in any way. We’ll talk more about that in a moment.
Is rainwater harvesting illegal on the county level?
No, not in keeping with any county law I could find…
But it’s entirely possible that some counties, municipalities, or cities can have rules and guidelines which are stricter than state ones (non-existent). Be sure to envision along with your local authorities regarding this.
And another reminder: Even if there aren’t any local laws or regulations, be sure that your collection doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s water rights.
Under what conditions can residents collect rainwater in Kansas?
In Kansas, state law allows residents to reap rainwater at any time and in any amount.
However, there may be an overarching law that takes precedence here: the gathering and use of rainwater, nevertheless innocent, must not ever interfere with the water rights of others.
As I discussed above, Kansas treats water rights as a very serious matter, and the subject can get a bit muddled in the event you live in a spot that does not have such strict water use laws, so let’s break it down real quick.
Kansas’s water rights laws follow the “prior appropriation doctrine”, meaning that the primary person to appropriate water from any source has a right superior to those that come later.
In addition, the state also recognizes that some sources are over-appropriated, meaning that more water rights are issued than practical water supplies can be found.
When that happens, the state is practicing proportionallywhere the state reduces the quantity of water allocated to every water right holder throughout the water scarcity period, starting with essentially the most recent “youngest” holder.
Where does rainwater harvesting fit into this? Kansas residents have the correct to gather water that falls on their property, but their collection of rain must not affect the water use rights of some other property, not only their neighbors. There have been conflicts over water rights regarding rainwater harvesting.
For example, if an individual’s harvesting system “collects” an excessive amount of rainwater that will fill an aquifer serving a neighbor’s rights, causing his or her well to dry up, say, the aggrieved neighbor may have a legal basis to bring legal motion against the raincatcher in the event that they persist and don’t they stop. This is clearly a simplification, but you get the purpose.
In addition, in areas where any source is over-appropriated, any rainwater harvested from upstream tributaries or serving the primary diversion point is subject to the identical allocation rules.
Therefore, in the event you accumulate enough water to affect flow downstream in any way, you have to a water right that’s subordinated to every part else within the chain of claims.
So you’ll be able to collect rainwater as much as you would like, but you will need to all the time pay attention to how your use may affect other people’s rights to water.
Is there a limit to the quantity of rainwater that might be collected in Kansas?
There are currently no state limits on the quantity of rainwater that might be harvested in Kansas, as there aren’t any specific laws prohibiting rainwater harvesting within the state.
Once again, rainwater can’t be harvested to the purpose where it interferes with another person’s water rights, and if the difficulty is disputed, an investigation could also be launched to find out exactly how much it’s.
But so long as you do not collect excessive amounts which will harm the environment or the water rights of others, you’ll be able to harvest rainwater.
What does Kansas allow residents to make use of rainwater for?
Kansas law allows residents to make use of harvested rainwater for anything otherwise legal. Technically, which means that rainwater might be used for potable and non-potable purposes.
But practically, if using rainwater for drinking or other purposes violates state or local health regulations, then it’s unacceptable.
Therefore, for non-emergency uses, think about using harvested rainwater just for tasks comparable to watering plants, watering crops, washing your automobile, and other non-potable uses.
Does Kansas require special equipment or inspections for rainwater harvesting?
Kansas doesn’t require any special equipment or inspections for rainwater harvesting. However, local regulations may say otherwise.
Even so, know that proper installation, design, maintenance, and system maintenance are essential to make sure water quality and your safety.
It is all the time good practice to frequently clean and maintain the gathering system, including storage tanks, gutters and filters, to stop contamination.
Be sure to envision local zoning regulations and HOAs, if applicable, to make sure compliance with any specific regulations applicable to your system.
Does Kansas offer rainwater harvesting incentives?
Kansas offers no direct incentives for rainwater harvesting. However, other non-profit organizations, service providers and municipalities may offer environmentally friendly or water conservation incentives.
Bottom line: Is Kansas a great state for rainwater harvesting?
Kansas is a wonderful state for collecting rainwater from all directions attributable to its high average rainfall and almost complete lack of regulation and oversight on the state level.
In fact, as mentioned earlier, Kansas encourages residents to make use of rainwater as a practical technique to conserve water and protect the environment.
Apart from having to envision along with your county and municipal authorities to be sure that they comply with local laws, you should not have any problems getting your system up and running.
Kansas has loads of rain all yr round, so make the most of it and begin harvesting rainwater as soon as possible.
