So, you think you own the rain water that falls on your roof...

[Wayne02]

Maybe Not!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371529_rain21.html

[Wisconsin Ann]

I don't own it. I just borrow it for a short time! then it goes on into the ground like God intended...it just gets diverted from pooling up in my basement. <insert innocent smiley with a halo around her head>

ooo. that would work as an excuse....."but police officer sir. If I DON'T collect it in this rain barrel, it just goes down into my basement and collects there!"

[watcher]

Around here you'd probably get into more trouble for trying to send 'your' water into your neighbor's yard.

[Pink_Carnation]

They forgot to mention that In King County you now cannot clear all of your property if it is not in a developement because without the trees they have to much water and flooding downstream.

[seedspreader]

"I just wanted to see each home basically have a couple of rain barrels to capture water and let grandma water her flowers," McCoy said. "But everybody's looking for free water."

Those crazy people.

[quadcam79]

Colorado water law follows the prior appropriation doctrine, of which the core principle is "first in time, first in right." The first person to put water to beneficial use and comply with other legal requirements obtains a water right superior to all later claims to that water.

nearly all of the rivers and streams in Colorado are overappropriated, which means there is often not enough water to satisfy all the claims to it. When this happens, senior water-right holders can "call the river" and cut off the flow to those who filed for water rights later, so-called "juniors."

Basically all of the rainwater that falls in Colorado is owned by someone and you can be prosecuted for harvesting it

[anette]

Originally Posted by quadcam79

Basically all of the rainwater that falls in Colorado is owned by someone and you can be prosecuted for harvesting it

the idea of "owning" rain just makes my head hurt!

[poorboy]

Go out inna yard and put in back on the ground..

[DamnearaFarm]

Originally Posted by quadcam79

Colorado water law follows the prior appropriation doctrine, of which the core principle is "first in time, first in right." The first person to put water to beneficial use and comply with other legal requirements obtains a water right superior to all later claims to that water.

nearly all of the rivers and streams in Colorado are overappropriated, which means there is often not enough water to satisfy all the claims to it. When this happens, senior water-right holders can "call the river" and cut off the flow to those who filed for water rights later, so-called "juniors."

Basically all of the rainwater that falls in Colorado is owned by someone and you can be prosecuted for harvesting it

Yup. Which is why we chose New Mexico for our move. They actually ENCOURAGE it and there are ads for rainwater containment systems (barrels, lol) in the papers.

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

Texas promotes its use and in our county we get a tax benefit too.

Here is a link to collecting rainwater - best link I know of:

http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publicat...3rdedition.pdf

What makes the rainwater laws so absurd is that after you use the rainwater it is not destroyed you just have diverted it for a period of time. What I think Seattle is most worried about is not getting to SELL YOU THEIR WATER and collect sewage fees based on the amount they sell you.

[EDDIE BUCK]

I just used it for a little while, then put it right back in the ground where it was going any way. For Pete's Sake , Eddie

[limey]

Unfortunately it is not just Seattle or King County but the whole state of Washington. The state asserts ownership of rain: Have you ever heard anything so absurd? I have to bow my head in shame since I work for the Dept of Ecology which is tasked with revising the rules. Only two more years to retirement!

Limey

[crafty2002]

I had to dig a ditch down the side of my house because the shop next door is dumping their water on my land and it was flooding my basement.
I should be pumping it into a tanker that runs on water and selling it out west.
When it rains, It pours....

[ldc]

Limey, we had a thread about a month ago on this subject, and many states inc. Colorado and Arizona (if I remember correctly!) have such statutes...Oh, brother!!! ldc

[deaconjim]

If the state owns the water coming across my property, they need to pay rent.

[Selena]

Originally Posted by RamblinRoseRanc

Yup. Which is why we chose New Mexico for our move. They actually ENCOURAGE it and there are ads for rainwater containment systems (barrels, lol) in the papers.

Just tell your NM Gov that we in the Great Lakes area ain't sharing -- want grass, live somewhere besides a desert!

[crafty2002]

How many rivers do we have that dumps into the oceans. The great Mississippi River goes straight into the "gulf of medico".
Why not dam that sucker up right there at the mouth and use the wind to pump it to where everything needs water.
Farmer used to pump water with the simplest wind mills around.
Everyone fussing about the water rights and let it go straight down stream.

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

Colorado is an interesting place for water. Consider that IF YOU PURCHASE WATER and have it trucked to your property for your use, as soon as you have used it the first time it reverts back to the ownership of the state and becomes water that is subject to the water laws of the state. You can't even legally use the grey water from the water you purchased.

[Nellie]

And like there's a shortage of rain in Seattle, anyway.

[GBov]

Originally Posted by Nellie

And like there's a shortage of rain in Seattle, anyway.

LOL you are so right I have a brother that lives over that way and he says "hell isnt hot, its cold with nonstop rain and slugs the size of tennis balls!"

I wonder, if the government says it owns the rain, can you sue them for littering?