When It Rains

The lawful collection and use of rainwater is a great way to water residential lawns, gardens, and landscapes. But water rights in Colorado are… complicated. For most of our landowners requesting information about rain barrels, we often refer to Colorado HB16-1005, Concerning the Use of Rain Barrels

Sponsored by Representatives Daneya Esgar, Jessie Danielson and Senator Michael Merrifield and enacted in 2016 (§37-96 5) , this bill allows for the collection of rainwater from the rooftops of singlefamily residential or multi-family residential (≤4 units) buildings into one or two rain barrels (with a combined storage capacity of no more than 110 gallons) to be used on the same property for outdoor purposes like lawn or garden irrigation. The bill also placed guiding and reporting requirements on the state engineer and state department of public health and environment, as well as limitations on homeowners' associations as they relate to residential water collection.

After some complications and difficult lessons with sourcing the barrels, we obtained the slightly used, food grade, recycled, cleaned, high density consumer plastic rain barrels Board supervisors prepared the barrels, including the installation of three spigots (for a garden hose at the bottom, an overflow, and connector to a second barrel), a required screen, and lid. To support the use of the barrels in as many homes as possible, the District worked hard to keep the price affordable, and in November, 2017, we began selling the barrels for $79 each

The barrels were most successfully sold at workshops or events hosted by one of our retail partners. The events were well attended, especially when combined with educational demonstrations such as our soil tunnel, and sales of additional items like native grass or cover crop seed mixes. Sales were “first come, first serve ” and interest usually exceeded current availability.

But even as COVID restrictions loosened, attendance at local events had declined and the convenience of online shopping and safety of contactless home-delivery triumphed. By mid-2021, barrel costs increased to $115 and where barrels were still available, individual parts and complete kits became difficult to source Interests in self-sufficiency and modern day homesteading also fluctuated

Phone calls and emails inquiring about rain harvesting, water quality or quantity, and water systems no longer flood the office but interest in water and rain barrels is still high among those who responded to our program interest survey

We will continue to search for affordable, food-grade, quality, recycled barrels, barrel parts, and DIY options as we again look forward to connecting people with the knowledge and tools to lawfully collect and use rainwater to irrigate our outdoor gardens, lawns, and plants and we retain hope that folks want to be wise steward of this limited, precious resource.