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Rain Water Collection in Colorado
August 2009
Contact: Joanne Littlefield
Assistant Director-Community Relations
Phone: (970) 491-4640
Joanne.Littlefield@colostate.edu
You may have heard that rain barrels are now legal for capturing rain water in Colorado and you should catch it while you can. Before heading out to your local hardware store for materials, there are some facts you should know. Rainwater harvesting is prohibited for residents that use municipal water.
Under the new legislation, residents who use well water can obtain a permit for limited rainwater collection beginning July 1 from the Colorado Division of Water Resources. Contrary to popular belief, collected rainwater cannot be used to water your lawn and garden if your well is limited to household uses.
For residents planning to obtain a permit to collect water, Colorado State University Extension provides reliable and research based information to help you get started. Rainwater harvesting systems are typically simple and inexpensive, but it’s important to design a system that is appropriate for your home. Although rainwater quality in Colorado is good, the storm-water runoff used for harvesting may be contaminated from impurities that accumulate on rooftops. CSU extension offers information on harvesting system designs, water purification and filtering.
Despite current limitations imposed by the new bill, the legal use of rain barrels in the city may be on the horizon. As part of the legislation, 10 pilot projects will be conducted in new housing developments to evaluate a variety of rainwater harvesting systems and their impact on the flow of surface and ground water.
In the meantime, residents that use municipal water can find a variety of water conservation and reuse techniques in and around the home through CSU Extension. Outdoor water use accounts for about 55 percent of residential water use along the Front Range. CSU Extension offers tips on developing drip irrigation system for the garden and additional ways to conserve water for landscaping. To access water harvesting and conservation fact sheet go to www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/06702.html.
Updated Tuesday, September 13, 2011
