West Virginia Rainwater Harvesting Permitted Statewide

West Virginia has no state statute prohibiting or restricting the collection of rainwater. Residents may install rain barrels and cisterns for non-potable uses such as irrigation and outdoor washing without state permits. Potable use generally requires treatment such as chlorination or UV disinfection. The WV Department of Environmental Protection publishes a stormwater management manual and rain barrel construction guidelines. While the state framework is permissive, large underground cisterns may trigger local construction permitting. Public water supply rules under WV Code §16-1 apply only to systems serving the public, not private rainwater collection.

No state penalties for residential rainwater collection; potable systems must comply with public water supply rules under WV Code §16-1 if applicable.