Kansas permits rainwater harvesting on private property without state-level restrictions. The Kansas Water Appropriation Act exempts captured rainwater from water-right permitting when collected from impervious surfaces for on-site, non-potable use, making collection broadly legal across the state.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources, has long interpreted the Water Appropriation Act (K.S.A. 82a-701 et seq.) to exclude rainwater collected from rooftops and impervious surfaces from the definition of regulated 'water of the state.' Property owners may install rain barrels, cisterns, and larger harvesting systems for landscape irrigation, gardening, livestock, and other non-potable uses without water-right permits. Diversion of natural watercourses or surface flows still requires appropriation permits. Local plumbing and building codes may govern indoor connections, especially when systems are plumbed for potable or non-potable indoor reuse.
Improper diversion of streams or surface water without permits violates K.S.A. 82a-705, with penalties including injunction and civil fines. Properly installed rooftop systems generally face no enforcement risk.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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