Rain Barrel Legislation Update

Although the rain barrel bill has been controversial at times during the Colorado legislative session this year, it is now on its way for a Senate vote after moving out of the Senate Ag, Natural Resources and Energy Committee last week. Colorado Farm Bureau President Don Shawcroft says that the current language of the bill addresses the concerns about the rain barrels are subject to the prior appropriations system
Shawcroft: “If someone in fact believes like they are being injured by not receiving the water that are entitled to with a stream or their streamed water right and they believe that specific rain barrels are causing that injury. Then they can bring that to the attention of the state engineer’s office who would then be required to investigate that, do some research and see if they agree that those specific rain barrels are causing the damage that is being claimed.”
Shawcroft continues
Shawcroft: “I think the other thing about it is from a practical sense if people save water in rain barrels and use it in places where they would usually be using house use — that will reduce the amount of demand that there is on municipal water providers.”