Skyline in Colorado
The constitution of Colorado declares that all water falling within its boundaries is property of the state. Senate Bill 09-080, passed during the 2009 legislative session, allows for limited collection and use of rainwater by landowners meeting specific criteria.
Landowners
Landowners are permitted to collect rainwater if their property is residential and if they own a well or are entitled to own a well. The well must have a permit and be allowed for domestic use only.
Lack of water supply
If you are a well owner, you must also be in an area that is not serviced by a local municipal water supplier to be eligible to harvest rainwater. New construction may qualify if it is outside a city water service area.
Roof
Rainwater must be harvested only from the roof of your home, and not from barns or outbuildings. The total rooftop area from which rainwater and snowmelt is harvested may not exceed 3,000 square feet.
Uses
The water collected from the rooftop may be used only for the purposes stated in the homeowner's well permit. This is usually stated as household use, which means drinking water and household sanitation only.
Fees
If you have a current well permit, there is no charge to apply for a water catchment permit. If your well does not have a current permit and was in use prior to 1972, there is a $100 charge for this permit.
Tags: have current, there charge, well permit