Why can you not collect rainwater in Colorado?

Water laws are so strict in Colorado that rainwater collection is virtually prohibited. The doctrine is written into the state's Constitution. All the rain is already spoken for. It belongs to someone, and that someone probably isn't you.

Why is rainwater harvesting illegal in Colorado?

Water law experts say rain barrels are only technically illegal, because proving they injure the water rights of other users is nearly impossible.

Is it legal to collect rainwater in Colorado?

Quick Facts. Most homeowners in Colorado are now allowed to use rain barrels to collect rainwater. A maximum of two rain barrels with a combined storage of 110 gallons or less are allowed at each household. Collected rainwater may be used to irrigate outdoor lawns, plants or gardens.

Why is it illegal to collect rainwater in Colorado and Utah?

In the case of Colorado, they have a 120-year-old law that implies that rainwater harvesting is illegal since that rainwater could flow downstream into someone else's water supply, which would be taking from them if one collected the rain.

Who owns the rain in Colorado?

While laws about rainwater collection are often murky, Colorado's are quite clear: Homeowners do not own the rain that falls on their property. (Update: As of June 28, two new laws allow Coloradans to collect rain legally.)

Why is Rainwater Catchment Illegal... or is It?

Why is rainwater collection illegal?

Most states allow rainwater harvesting on residential and/or commercial properties for non-drinking purposes, such as watering the lawn. But there may be strict rules against harvesting water for drinking, as rainwater can contain harmful substances, such as animal feces, E. coli, and pesticides.

Is rain water safe to drink?

Rainwater that falls in heavily polluted areas or comes into contact with contaminants, such as animal feces or heavy metals, may not be appropriate for human consumption ( 2 ). Thus, it's not advisable to start collecting and drinking rainwater unless you're 100% certain it's clean and safe for human consumption.

Why is it illegal to collect rainwater in California?

California. Rainwater harvesting coming from your roof is fine in California. No permit from the state board is necessary. However, collecting rainwater for landscaping purposes would require a license.

Why is it illegal to collect rainwater in Florida?

There are no rainwater harvesting restrictions in Florida, and it is highly encouraged by the state. Several local municipalities encourage rainwater harvesting with tax incentives and rebate programs.

Is collecting rainwater in Texas illegal?

Water School

Yes, rainwater harvesting is legal in the State of Texas. According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, most if not all domestic water needs can be met by collecting rainfall from the roofs of homes and outbuildings. A permit to collect rainwater is not needed.

Why is it illegal to collect rainwater in Denver?

GRACE HOOD, BYLINE: In the West, rain that falls on your roof may not be your water. That's because states like Colorado have complicated laws that honor long-standing water rights. That's meant that a simple act like collecting rain on your own property was technically illegal.

How do water rights work in Colorado?

Water rights in Colorado are unique when compared to other parts of the United States. The use of water is governed by what is known as the "Prior Appropriation System". This system of water allocation controls who uses how much water, the types of uses allowed, and when those waters can be used.

Who owns the water in Colorado?

Thus, Colorado's constitution, General Assembly statutes, and Colorado Supreme Court case law decisions entirely reject riparian law in favor of these principles: (1) all surface and groundwater within Colorado is owned by the public and is dedicated to the use of the people through water rights established as ...

How many gallons of rainwater can the barrel hold?

Size Matters. The size of any individual rain barrel helps to determine how much water it can save. While a typical rain barrel has a capacity of 55 gallons, different size alternatives do exist (see References 1, page 1).

Can you collect rainwater in Utah?

Utah State law (Utah Code 73-3-1.5) allows rain catchment storage up to 2,500 gallons, with the following qualifiers: A person may collect and store precipitation without registering in no more than two covered storage containers if neither covered container has a maximum storage capacity of greater than 100 gallons.

Is it illegal to collect rainwater in Oregon?

Although water is publicly owned in Oregon, state law allows residents to collect runoff from rooftops and store it in reservoirs, rain barrels, water tanks, or other containers.

Can you drink snow?

It is generally safe to eat snow or use it for drinking or for making ice cream, but there are some important exceptions. If the snow is lily-white, you can safely ingest it. But if the snow is colored in any way, you'll need to stop, examine its color, and understand what it means.

Why is rainwater dirty?

Germs and other contaminants are found in rainwater.

Rainwater can carry bacteria, parasites, viruses, and chemicals that could make you sick, and it has been linked to disease outbreaks.

Can you boil rain water?

Making Rain Water Safer

Two key steps you can take to improve the quality of rainwater are to boil it and filter it. 1 Boiling the water will kill off pathogens. Filtration, such as through a home water filtration pitcher, will remove chemicals, dust, pollen, mold, and other contaminants.

How long can you store rainwater?

You probably know the benefits of using rainwater for plants, but how long can you keep it and use it on your plants? Generally, rainwater will become contaminated after about one week. You can prolong its lifetime indefinitely by keeping it out of the light and from animal and insect contact.

Why is it illegal to collect rainwater in Missouri?

There are no legal restrictions in Missouri on collecting as much rainwater as desired. The collection area (usually a roof) is typically very close to the site of end use, reduc- ing the length and therefore the costs of pipes to get water from source to point of use.

Is Colorado running out of water?

In as little five years, according to climate researcher Brad Udall, the Upper Colorado River Basin states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico, may not be able to deliver the 7.5 million acre-feet of water they are required to annually to Arizona, California and Nevada under the terms of the 1922 Colorado River ...

What's wrong with the water in Colorado?

Climate change, drought and overuse of the Colorado River system are jeopardizing the reliability of this water, which supplies 40 million people in the West. Lake Mead hit its lowest level on record this year, as did the second-largest reservoir in the U.S. — Lake Powell.

Can I buy water rights in Colorado?

The right to use surface and ground water in Colorado has many of the attributes of private ownership of real property. Individuals and organizations in Colorado are allowed to buy, sell, and even rent water rights if the water will be put to beneficial use.