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.
Colorado was the last state to allow any residential rainwater harvesting, finally doing so in 2016 because prior-appropriation water law treats all precipitation as belonging to downstream senior water-rights holders. The 110-gallon cap is strict; a homeowner cannot have multiple 55-gallon systems. Collected water must be used for landscape irrigation on the collecting property and cannot be sold, given away, or used indoors. Colorado Springs Utilities supports rainwater harvesting as part of its Water Wise program and offers rain barrel workshops. The limit applies whether you have one barrel of 110 gallons or two 55-gallon barrels.
Exceeding the 110-gallon cap can trigger water rights enforcement by the State Engineer's Office, not the city. Most violations result in educational outreach and voluntary compliance. Willful large-scale collection (cisterns, ponds) without water court approval can result in injunctive relief and senior-rights holder damages.
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See how Colorado Springs's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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