In Delaware, rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged as a sustainable water conservation practice. Rainwater collected on privately owned land or leased property belongs to the landowner responsible for the collection system. Delaware does not require a water rights permit for rainwater collection, and regulations primarily address construction, installation, and use of rainwater collection systems for non-potable uses such as irrigation.
Delaware’s 2018 Plumbing Code and other state regulations set forth standards for rainwater collection systems, including limits on storage capacity (typically up to 20,000 gallons) and requirements for licensed installation if connected to indoor plumbing. The state sponsors incentive programs and loans for green infrastructure projects, including rainwater harvesting systems.
While rainwater is considered public water in some aspects, Delaware law views it as a resource that landowners may capture and use, provided it does not interfere with other water rights or environmental regulations. Homeowners’ associations may have policies regarding collection system design and architectural requirements.
Thus, rainwater in Delaware is owned and can be legally harvested by the landowner, with multiple conservation laws supporting its use for non-potable purposes and runoff reduction.
SOURCES
[1](https://pioneerwatertanksamerica.com/is-it-illegal-to-collect-rainwater-in-your-state/)
[2](https://www.ntotank.com/blog/rainwater-harvesting-laws-regulations-and-rights-by-us-state)
[3](https://worldwaterreserve.com/is-it-illegal-to-collect-rainwater/)
[4](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/rainwater-collection-legal-states)
[5](https://4perfectwater.com/blog/rainwater-harvesting-laws)
