Rainwater harvesting is encouraged in Bernalillo County. New Mexico Office of the State Engineer permits residential collection without restriction. ABQ Water Utility offers rain barrel rebates up to $100. No plumbing permit required unless connecting to potable plumbing.
New Mexico explicitly supports rainwater harvesting for residential use. The Office of the State Engineer treats roof-captured rainwater as exempt from water-rights requirements when used for the same property. Bernalillo County and Albuquerque encourage harvesting through rebate programs — the ABQ Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) offers up to $100 rebate for rain barrels and larger rebates for cisterns under the Xeriscape/Water Smart program. Rain barrels and cisterns up to 5,000 gallons typically require no building permit. Cisterns connected to indoor plumbing or used for potable purposes require a plumbing permit and cross-connection prevention. IDO §14-16-5-4 landscape standards actively encourage harvesting as part of water-conservation landscape credits. In this high desert climate (average rainfall 9 inches/year), harvested water is valuable for supplementing xeriscape irrigation.
No penalties for standard residential collection. Large cistern without plumbing permit (when connected to indoor plumbing): $100 to $500. Cross-connection violations (potable backflow risk): ABCWUA enforcement up to $1,000.
Bernalillo County, NM
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See how Bernalillo County's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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