Rainwater laws / Wisconsin
Is it legal to collect rainwater in Wisconsin?
Checked at Wisconsin's own statutes and agencies, November 2026. Not legal advice.
Allowed; plumbing rules for indoor use
Yes. Wisconsin's plumbing code allows reusing stormwater, with treatment standards for toilet flushing and spray irrigation.
What the rules say
- Wis. Adm. Code SPS 382.34: storm water "may be reused in conformance with s. SPS 382.70," which sets limits for toilet flushing and spray irrigation.
Before you buy a big tank
State law is only one layer. Cities and counties can set their own rules, especially for tanks plumbed into the house, and an HOA can limit where a barrel sits. Drinking rainwater needs treatment everywhere. For a barrel or two on a downspout for the garden, the state rule above is usually the one that matters.
Where the numbers come from
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