It’s no doubt Thursday's sprinkling of water won’t help Utah’s extreme drought conditions. However, there is a way to use rain and snowmelt throughout the year to potentially help your lawns and gardens: rainwater harvesting.Despite many still believing it’s illegal, rainwater harvesting was legalized back in 2010. It works by placing a large barrel below your rain gutter and using that water for your property or to wash your car. Since the legalization of rainwater harvesting, only 150,000 Utahns have registered. Utah state engineer and the director of the Division of Water Rights Teresa Wilhelmsen says it’s not a lot of people and she thinks it’s more of a “trendy hobby” than a water conservation method.
Wihelmsen says the ease of rainwater harvesting depends on who you ask, but it can be worth a try.
