March 5, 2007--Rain reuse comes with catch (Denver Post)
...A Douglas County study lays out the simple science and complex legal hurdles for letting homeowners take rainfall from their rooftops to sprinkle on their lawns. Any way to extend local water supplies--from rainwater harvesting to conservation--is going to be embraced by municipalities and water providers...Colorado water law decrees rights to a share of almost every drop of river water. Rainfall is part of that equation. If it is captured and used, the law requires the same volume must be put back in the river for downstream users...The Colorado legislature would have to rewrite the laws, carve out exceptions for collected rainwater or create credits that compensate those with purchased water rights...
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