Collecting rain water at home

[SHRED]

i find it odd that whenever I go to a comment section of articles about how to build a rain barrel system there are many people posting that it's illegal. It's not Illegal with one exception and that is Colorado where legislation is currently working is way through to make it legal.

They usually post up about our "tyrannical government" and to "resist". And they post unrelated articles not about rooftop collection. The Harrington case in Oregon is a favorite even though it's about illegal pond making.


Here is a good source of rain water rooftop collection laws and regs.
http://www.enlight-inc.com/blog/?p=1036

Collect away folks and remember to go big if you can. 1"of rain on 1,000 sq ft of roof equals 600 gallons.

Here's my 205 gallon Bushman. I wish I had room for a bigger tanks. My garden loves this water.

[cantbeserious]

1. Thanks For Sharing - Legal In NY State

eom

[OffWithTheirHeads]

2. In Tucson it's not only legal, they offer rebates.

Mind if I ask how much yours cost and can they be hooked to more. I'm looking at a system for about 1,000 galons. Much like solar panels, In Tucson this is just common sense and I could probably fill a system in one good Monson rain.

[hlthe2b]

3. as unfathomable as it may seem, it most certainly IS ILLEGAL in some areas..

We are working hard to change that in Colorado, but if you live out West, you would likely know that interstate water compacts define every damned drop of water in the region.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27723629/rooftop-rainwater-collection-bill-easily-clears-colorado-committee

A bill that would allow residential rainwater collection sailed through a committee hearing Monday, making headway in Colorado's decades-old water rights battle.

House Bill 1259 passed the Agriculture, Livestock & Natural Resources Committee 8-5 and now advances to the full House.

"We're simply wanting to allow people to collect the rain that falls off of their rooftops ... to put back into the earth," said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo.

The proposal would limit total barrel size to 100 gallons per residence. Proponents say that the average homeowner could collect about 600 gallons of water annually to water their lawns or gardens. --snip--

Colorado's water rights system — known as "first in time, first in right" — emerged during the mining booms of the 19th century. Using that rhetoric, people argue that collecting rainwater prevents it from reaching rivers, violating the rights of downstream users.

"It's a violation of the doctrine of prior appropriations," said Pat Ratliff of the South Metro Water Authority. "It's not their water (to use). It's a return flow that somebody downstream has a senior right to."

[hlthe2b]

4. From your own article: "One exception is Colorado, where there are still limitations for some people

So, no... those who tell you there are legal restrictions are NOT crazy.

[SHRED]

5. I understand this about Colorado

But that law is ending soon if it hasn't already.
I debate people who claim is illegal in their state when in fact is not. And they keep arguing. I have to post a link to their state website showing is okay. I've given up trying to convince the clueless.

[hlthe2b]

6. My post above that updates where we are with the situation.

Just be accurate, please. Your phrasing in your OP was NOT and the head-smacking emoticon a bit inapropriate. WE who are fighting to change this are ANYTHING BUT "clueless"...

[SHRED]

7. Let me get specific

I'm talking about people, in spite of the facts, keep arguing it's illegal. Sorry for any confusion.

[jeff47]

8. You've only covered two levels of government

There's no federal ban, and most states do not have a statewide ban.

Now you just have to cover regional, county, and municipal laws. Then you also have to cover covenants like HOAs.

Just because you link to a site where a guy says "I didn't see anything about rainwater when I looked a little" doesn't actually mean there are no regulations. Either missed by them or applied at a lower level.

[SHRED]

14. Always check of course

However the big scare on the Internet that it is illegal is many times over way exaggerated.
Please let us know where all these illegal regulations are if you find them.

[hermetic]

9. Do you have shingles?

I worry about "stuff" that might be in the runoff from my roof. I live in a very dry zone where it only rains about once a month and I don't have any way to set up a system like yours but I'd like to just set some buckets around to gather some water for my garden. Do you think that is safe to do?

TIA

[Curmudgeoness]

10. I would think that, unless the shingles are brand new,

there is nothing to worry about....and I don't even know if there is a problem if they are new.

This water is not for drinking anyways, it is used in gardens or lawns, and the plants will take up the water needed from the soil, and leave anything that you would be worried about. But if you are worried, water plants that you will not be eating from the rain barrel, although I bet this water is better than the chemical laden tap water.

[SHRED]

12. yes

Last edited Mon May 11, 2015, 12:25 AM - Edit history (1)

No problem with the runoff.... composite shingles shed a bit but my fine screened basket filter catches it.
If it hasn't rained in awhile I here the blower on the roof and gutter.
This water is fine for watering garden and landscaping. Plants love it.

[Silver Gaia]

22. Just don't drink it.

My ex used to use rain water from our shingled roof to water his dogs. They all died of cancer, and the vet said he thought it was because of the chemicals from the shingles that got into the water. So use it cautiously.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. That is the largest rain barrel I have ever seen.

I do not have one yet, but have considered it for years. Many people here have problems with them because we get so much rain. Larger size barrels would be a help. What happens with it when you get so much rain that the barrel is full?

[SHRED]

13. it goes out the overflow

I hook a drainage tube to it and fill a trashcan. When that fills it goes on the ground.

[drmeow]

15. Knowing my personal limitations

(i.e., I wouldn't do the necessary maintaining) I decided to go with a passive system (since my lawn gets flood irrigation with reclaimed water, it would only water my xeriscape):

1st rain after install:

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[url=http://postimage.org/]front[/url]

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[url=http://postimage.org/]back[/url]

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[url=http://postimage.org/]out of focus "rain of the century" from Sept 2014[/url]

It doesn't catch everything from the roof but it gets a significant portion. Most of what it doesn't get goes on the yard (it gets everything that would run off onto concrete)

[NeoGreen]

16. I have been collecting (harvesting) Rain Water...

... at home since 1999.

I have two (2) 1,500-gallon poly tanks that are 1/2 buried in the ground behind my garage.

I tend to run low in late-July early-August and February.

My biggest consumption is for laundry, and if I found an alternative source for laundry water (I have a plan) I would never run low for my day to day domestic use.

I live in NY, so no legal restrictions at the State level (yet).


Photos to come.

[SHRED]

17. Nice!

[NeoGreen]

24. Oops...

...I forgot that I said I would post some photos.

I will work on putting some links and references together along with a brief summary of my experience(s) and my current project to supplement my RwH system.

NG

[hlthe2b]

18. Update: Sadly, Colorado remains the one state where this is illegal--

RETHUGS blocked the attempt to remove restrictions at the end of the legislative session. Gawd, some days I really really really hate Republicans.

[SHRED]

19. Is there a link?

I'd like to read about this. Thanks

[hlthe2b]

20. yes, there certainly is:

http://www.9news.com/story/news/2015/05/06/rain-barrels-colorado/70875922/

[SHRED]

21. Thanks! and another...

http://www.coloradostatesman.com/content/995657-rain-barrel-bill-dies-calendar

[Jamastiene]

23. I would love to learn about everything from rain barrels

to solar and wind energy without having to hear the weird right wing spin on so many of the sites online. That is annoying and gets tiresome after a while.