New rainwater rules don’t apply to most gardeners

Placing plants near downspouts is one way to take advantage of rainwater before it runs off your property.

The new law allowing rainwater collection in Colorado doesn’t apply to most gardeners. If you get your water from a municipality or water district, you still can’t collect rainwater.

Colorado water law is confusing, but it boils down to this: the rainwater that falls on your property doesn’t belong to you. In our state that water is considered part of the tributary to a natural stream and should be allowed to runoff.

Senate Bill 09-080 was signed by Governor Ritter during this legislative session and it allows only limited collection of rainwater to a limited number of property owners meeting set criteria pertaining to a well on the property. A list of the rules is available at Rainwater Collection in Colorado.

Homeowners who don’t fit all of the criteria are not allowed to divert and hold rainwater on their property.

However, gardeners can use site design principles to slow the flow of rainwater to water plants as it leaves the property. Simple techniques include creating shallow channels, building berms,  and digging basins. Xeriscaping is also a good way to make the most of rainwater in your garden.

The new rainwater collection law acknowledges that the Colorado legislature is aware of the need to find new water conservation approaches. But the day most of us can legally use a rainbarrel is still a long way off.

Care to share your thoughts of rainwater harvesting in Colorado? Please post them here.

 

Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.