Do we have the right to collect rainwater?

If the recovery of rainwater is the subject of decrees and legal constraints, it is above all for public health reasons. Indeed, imposing regulations for the use of rainwater is necessary to avoid any risk of contamination or disease. It is therefore completely legal to collect and collect rainwater. The government even encourages the installation of the necessary equipment. However, texts more strictly regulate the use of rainwater.

Rainwater storage: how to collect rainwater

There are different types of equipment to recover and collect rainwater. The most common is installing an above ground tank. It is easy to obtain one in DIY stores. And it can then be installed by yourself or by a professional. The above-ground tank is installed near a gutter or a roof. And it is the rainwater that flows from the roof that is thus recovered. On the other hand, it is also possible to install a buried tank. Its advantage is its greater rainwater storage capacity. Its use is more complex, because the law does not authorize the installation of taps directly connected to pipes present in interiors.

Rainwater regulation, water collector: is it legal to collect rainwater?

As part of environmental protection and water savings, the government encourages homeowners to install rainwater collectors in gardens. Aid is even offered to help French households. It is therefore completely legal to collect rainwater. However, the use of the latter is regulated by a decree. It is possible to use stored rainwater to fill the toilet flush, to wash the floors, to water the garden or even to wash the car. Concerning washing clothes, the regulations are clear: rainwater can be used, but, first, it must pass through a treatment device. Conversely, rainwater cannot be used for food consumption.

Reserve and use rainwater: is it drinkable?

Rainwater is not drinkable. For the simple reason that rainwater has run off the roofs, which contain metals and sometimes asbestos. If the regulations are strict, it is therefore for safety reasons. Indeed, rainwater collected in tanks can be contaminatedand that is why it is strictly forbidden to drink it or use it in cooking. It should still be noted that rainwater collection is not authorized in public establishments in municipalities such as schools, for the same security reasons.

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