Water rights are a first in time first in right situation.
Rainwater collection from roof laws.
Untreated rainwater collected from roofs is not safe to drink.
A flood of problems waiting to happen dives much deeper into water rights.
Storage tanks can be inside or outside above or below ground or partially above and partially below ground see fi gures 1 and 2.
In 2009 we issued a rainwater use interpretive policy which clarifies that you may use water collected from your rooftop without a water right permit.
Rainwater collection including the use of rain barrels has become more popular as a supplemental source of water.
In 2016 house bill 16 1005 was passed allowing residents to collect rainwater from a catchment system on their rooftops into two rain barrels with a combined capacity of 110 gallons.
1 of rain on 1 000 sf roof will yield 623 gallons roof area m2 x precipitation amount mm amount collected liters.
Rainwater collection calculation formulas and equations roof area ft2 x precipitation amount in x 0 623 amount collected gallons easy formula to remember.
To comply with colorado water law the container must be equipped with a sealable lid.
That s because weirdly collecting rainwater is actually illegal in some states.
Any container capable of collecting the rain shedding from a roof or patio can be used as a rainwater harvesting system.
A journal published by the university of north carolina titled rainwater collection water law and climate change.
Though these collection system permits do not limit the size of the rain barrel the water must be collected from the roof of the primary residence and the rainwater may only be used for the uses allowed under the resident s exempt well permit.
It states that any type of rainwater collectors whether from gutters on your roof or any other rainwater drain control infringes on the water rights lawfully belonging to someone downstream.
Two laws were passed in 2009 which loosened restrictions on rainwater collection allowing residents to use rainwater for non potable purposes.
There are however very strict laws regarding ground water and surface water.
There are regulations about the use of harvested roof water but it is not against the law do do so.
Collected rainwater may be used to irrigate outdoor lawns plants or gardens.
Exactly how much rainwater you re allowed to collect and use varies across the u s for example under a colorado law passed in 2016 homeowners are now allowed to catch and use two rain barrels a total of 110 gallons from their rooftops but no more.
State legislatures consider factors such as water rights quality standards and public health that rainwater harvesting may impact.