Rain barrels can collect rainwater from roof downspouts and water can only be used for outdoor purposes on the property from which the rainwater was collected. It can therefore be used to irrigate outdoor plants, lawns or gardens, but not for drinking or indoor water needs. In Colorado, other people`s water rights extend even to raindrops falling on your roof. Benson has studied all the different ways in which Western states have tackled an increasingly outdated idea, such as prior appropriation, which allocates water based on age rather than need. Bills legalizing rainwater harvesting are an example of how lawmakers have tried to make exceptions in this mindset. (California passed a similar law in 2012.) Q. It`s been a few seasons since rain barrels were approved. How well do you think things are going? On Monday, Colorado officials voted to allow people to store up to 110 gallons of rainwater flowing from their roofs. One hundred gallons is at the upper end of the amount of water a person in America consumes per day. It consists of three bins filled with water or four loads of laundry. In accordance with Colorado laws (Section 37-96.5-103, S.C.R.), precipitation may be collected in rain barrels on the roofs of certain residential properties.

A common interest group or homeowners corporation may impose reasonable aesthetic requirements that govern the location or exterior appearance of a rain barrel. To protect the superior holders of water rights in Colorado, water diversion and storage is only permitted at times when all water use rights in the basin are respected. However, it is not practical for homeowners to know at all times whether water rights are being respected. In order to collect rainwater without considering other water rights, there are two laws that allow limited rainwater harvesting from the roofs of residential buildings. These laws are described in more detail below. In particular, prior to the passage of House Bill 16-1005, rainwater harvesting was only permitted under certain circumstances. Colorado`s water laws are so strict that rainwater harvesting is virtually banned. The doctrine is enshrined in the constitution of the State.

All the rain has already been pronounced. It belongs to someone, and that someone probably isn`t you. So don`t touch it. You can find all kinds of barrels at Lowe`s, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Amazon, and other home and garden stores. Be sure to follow Colorado`s guidelines, which state that your barrels can store up to 110 gallons in total, and that your barrel should be sealable to keep breeding mosquitoes away. Water rights experts say rain barrels are technically illegal only because it`s almost impossible to prove they infringe on other users` water rights. Q. What are the most frequently asked questions about using rain barrels? One last thing: rain barrels will be legal for another subset of Colorado residents — but not all. The Act applies to people who live in single-family homes or an « apartment building of four units or less. » According to Conservation Colorado`s Conley, the law does not allow the use of rainwater barrels from schools or homeowners associations that have more than four homes connected by a common wall (think townhouses or townhouse-style condos, which are common throughout the metropolitan area). That said, HOAs can`t ban rain barrels for single-family homes and townhouses of four units or less, says Molly Foley-Healy of the Colorado Homeowners Association, which does legal work on behalf of HOAs. An HOA can impose requirements on the appearance of the rain barrel and how it is placed on the downpipe, » said Conley, who helped draft the law.

Each household can have up to two barrels of rain with a storage capacity of 110 gallons. This is enough to water your vegetable garden, outdoor plants or a small lawn. The law states that you can have up to two 55-gallon rain barrels. The rain barrel must be lockable to prevent mosquitoes from taking hold. You can only use rainwater for « outdoor purposes, » such as watering your lawn or garden. The rain barrel should be used to collect rainwater through a downspout from your roof. Rainwater can only be used on your own property, not your neighbor`s. In Colorado, it`s not a good idea to install your barrel in the winter, as the water inside can freeze and damage the system.

Just before the first frost, it`s time to pack it for the winter. Adjust your gutter downspout so that water drains out of your home. Empty your keg completely, rinse it and let it dry. Then store it in a garage or basement or turn it over and leave it outside for the winter and cover it with a tarp if you have one. Make sure the faucet is open and all components are clean. In the spring, you can put it back in place and collect rainwater again. Colorado residents who qualify for exemption well permits may be able to collect 110 gallons of water under HB16-1005 and collect rainwater for additional purposes under SB09-080 as long as they can comply with the restrictions outlined for both laws. Also, people think that 110 gallons of rainwater is more than it is. It`s not that much water and they can use it quickly.

An inch of water over 180 square feet uses 110 gallons. They think they don`t need to use irrigation to extract water, but rain barrels are a complement to that. Whenever you collect the maximum of 110 gallons of water allowed in rain barrels, you can adequately irrigate about 180 square feet (slightly smaller than a 15-foot by 15-foot area) vegetable or lawn with the collected water. This estimate is based on the CSU extension`s recommendations to water lawns and vegetable gardens with about 1 inch of water during each watering cycle. However, a typical rain barrel user may only expect rain barrels to fill up completely about 10 to 15 times during the growing season, while vegetable gardens and lawns should be watered at least twice as often per year, depending on irrigation practices. Therefore, additional irrigation is always necessary to maintain a healthy lawn and vegetable garden. The law allows up to two barrels of rain with a combined storage capacity of 110 gallons. Depending on the amount of precipitation in a year, a household could save between 1,300 and 2,100 gallons of water per year. Here`s Drew in a canoe to tell you a little more about the importance of rain barrels: A. As far as I know, things are going well. Interest in rain barrels is still great, although I don`t have any statistics.

I have given three educational lectures so far this season and they have all been sold out. This finally ends the ban on rain barrels in the state of Colorado. Finally, we all have access to a simple preservation tool that reminds us of our connection to Colorado`s water supply. In the past, the law was the only obstacle; Rainfall harvesting was technically illegal in many states, as all rainfall was subject to this strict hierarchy of water rights dating back to the mid-1800s. Governor John Hickenlooper recently signed House Bill 1005, which allows a maximum of two barrels of rain – with a total capacity of 110 gallons – in each household. The measure is expected to come into effect on August 10. « We don`t think changes in the water cycle can be accurately quantified or measured, » said Chris Olson, a researcher and program manager at the Stormwater Center. « Water is infiltrated or evaporated. The only difference is the weather, one day, maybe two, before the rain barrel is emptied. The most important thing to know is that they require a bit of work.

People need to have a close relationship with their rain barrels to install, maintain and winter them. At the end of the season, residents must empty them and disconnect them from the downspout. They are not hands-free at all. The bottom line about rain barrels: Using two rain barrels to irrigate your garden could save up to 1,200 gallons per year. And Conservation Colorado says it`s a great way to connect to the state`s water supply, as using a barrel of rain puts you in the mood for Colorado`s natural rain cycles. Here are some of his thoughts on rainwater harvesting in our region. Mother Nature seems to have taken note too, with rain in parts of Colorado for the first time in some time. HB16-1005 allows rainwater harvesting specifically for landscaping. Therefore, rainwater collected in rain barrels in accordance with HB16-1005 cannot be used to water animals. However, rainwater collected in rain barrels, as permitted by a permit for the rooftop precipitation collection system according to SB09-080, can only be used for animal irrigation, but only if the exempted well permit allows irrigation of animals. For more information, see the Using rain barrels at SB09-080 section above. On the one hand, it can be interpreted as a gesture of goodwill.

Encouraging residents to collect rain shows that communities care about their impact on the state`s water resources. Rainwater harvesting first became legal in Colorado in 2016. After several seasons of using rain barrels, now is a good time to ask an expert for an update. In 2012, California passed a law allowing residents to collect and store water flowing from their roofs. It was once illegal to harvest rain in California, but now cities like Los Angeles hand out free rain barrels. Reagan Waskom, director of Colorado State University`s Colorado Water Institute, said rainwater bills were passed in 2009 that allowed rain barrels for homeowners with domestic well permits only for domestic use. These laws were considered inapplicable to livestock. « The only way to allow your horse to drink rainwater is if the horse can reach the sink through your window, » he joked.