Rainwater Harvesting: Colorado Springs vs Manitou Springs
How do rainwater harvesting rules compare between Colorado Springs, CO and Manitou Springs, CO?
Colorado Springs has fewer restrictions than Manitou Springs.
Colorado Springs, CO
El Paso County
Colorado law (HB 16-1005) allows single-family and duplex homes to collect rainwater in up to two 55-gallon barrels (110 gallons total) from rooftop runoff for outdoor, non-potable use only. The collected water must be used on the same property. Larger collection systems are prohibited without a specific water-court-approved plan due to Colorado's strict prior-appropriation doctrine.
View full Colorado Springs rules →Manitou Springs, CO
El Paso County
El Paso County rainwater harvesting strictly limited by Colorado water law — HB 16-1005 (C.R.S. §37-96.5-103) permits only two 55-gallon barrels (110 gallons total) per residential property for outdoor irrigation. Prior Appropriation Doctrine restricts collection. Colorado Springs Utilities enforcement is informational, not punitive.
View full Manitou Springs rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Colorado Springs | Manitou Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Total Volume | 110 gallons maximum | - |
| Barrel Count | 2 barrels of 55 gallons each | - |
| State Law | HB 16-1005 | - |
| Use Restriction | Outdoor, same property only | - |
| Property Types | Single-family and duplex only | - |
| Legal Since | - | HB 16-1005 (2016) |
| Max Capacity | - | 110 gallons (2 barrels) |
| Use | - | Outdoor only, on-site |
| Water Provider | - | Colorado Springs Utilities |
| Court | - | Division 2 (Pueblo) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Colorado Springs FAQ
Can I install a cistern at my Colorado Springs home?
Only up to 110 gallons total across one or two barrels. Larger cisterns require a water court approved water rights plan under Colorado's prior-appropriation doctrine, which is effectively unavailable to individual homeowners.
Can I use harvested rainwater to flush toilets in Colorado Springs?
No. Colorado's rainwater law (HB 16-1005) restricts collected water to outdoor non-potable use on the collecting property. Indoor uses including toilets, laundry, and drinking are prohibited from harvested rainwater.
Manitou Springs FAQ
Can I install a large cistern to capture rainwater?
No — Colorado water law caps residential collection at two 55-gallon barrels (110 gallons total) under C.R.S. §37-96.5-103. Larger cisterns require a decreed water right adjudicated through Division 2 Water Court in Pueblo, which is costly and rarely granted for residential use.
Can I use collected rainwater for drinking or my toilet?
No. Collected rainwater may only be used on the property where collected for outdoor irrigation (garden, lawn, landscaping). Indoor plumbing, drinking water, and livestock use are all prohibited under the statute.
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