What was once forbidden is now encouraged.

A newly adopted policy provides clarity to the Washington state surface water code, said Stacy Smith, a natural resource planner with the Whidbey Island Conservation District.

The new policy overturned a 1917 law that banned rainwater collection for personal use.

For the past seven years, there have been many attempts to clarify the bygone law, but none of the bills passed until this year when former Department of Ecology Director Jay Manning signed the Water Resources Program Policy on Oct. 9.

The department issued an Interpretive Policy Statement several days later clarifying that a water right is no longer required for rooftop rainwater harvesting.

Before the new policy, it was technically illegal to collect rainwater even if it fell on privately-owned property. The only way to get around it was to apply for a water right permit.

The new policy prompted Oak Harbor environmental educator Maribeth Crandell to promote the use of rain barrels within the community to collect rainwater for personal irrigation, washing and other residential uses.

It’s important to promote rain water collection on Whidbey Island because we have limited ground water resources, she said, adding that the less water draining into storm drains means less pollutants will flow into the bay.

Ten Oak Harbor residents were awarded for their stormwater smarts this month in the city’s first rain barrel give-away, including Greta Matthews, Ray and Virginia Lopez, Shelley Richardson, Jeff Ward, Mike Milat, Brenda Maronde, Rebekah Duysing, Don and Christine Loomis, Norma Badger, and Jeremy Jackson.

In October and November, city residents received a survey in the mail along with their water utility bill. The survey results gave Crandell an idea of what the general population already knows about stormwater issues. Crandell graded the surveys, and awarded the top-10 scored responders for their “storm water wisdom.”

The city storm water department purchased the “deluxe” style rain barrels, complete with covers and metal faucets, from Skagit Farmers Supply.

The 50-gallon, heavy plastic containers collect rainfall and store the often-overlooked natural resource for later use. When rainwater isn’t collected, what doesn’t seep into the ground flows down storm drains and into the Puget Sound, Crandell said. Studies have shown that storm water picks up toxins, such as those found in fertilizers, car oil drippings and animal waste as it flows into storm drains and into the bay.

Storm water is a hot topic in the Pacific Northwest, according to Crandell.

The Oak Harbor City Council begrudgingly approved an unfunded state mandate by the Washington state Department of Ecology, to add a new chapter to the city’s storm water management code this November. The new storm water ordinance makes it illegal to dump anything down a storm drain other than rain and is aimed at reducing pollution by both individuals and businesses.

“The city can now issue a fine for any illicit discharge but we’d rather focus on education before fines,” Crandell said.

The Legislature’s move to update the surface water code is a great first step, she said.

“Several counties are now moving toward allowing rain water for flushing, etc. Look for changes in 2010 and 2011 in Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan county,” Crandell said.