Why
isn’t my water mine?
As was mentioned in my
last post, all the water in Colorado is owned by someone because of Prior
Appropriation, the system where first in time means first in right. But who
supports this so much that we can’t even put up a rain barrel? Meet State
Senator Jerry
Sonnenberg, one of the driving forces behind keeping rain barrels illegal.
He believes in the strength of Prior Appropriation so strongly that he
considers it stealing to put up a rain barrel. “It’s like growing flowers,”
Sonnenberg said. “You can’t go over and pick your neighbors’ flowers just
because you’re only picking a few. They’re not your flowers.” In the last
session of the Colorado Legislature House Bill 15-1259 came up before the Senate
Agriculture Committee, which is chaired by Senator Sonnenberg. He managed to
stall the bill from mid-April until near the end of the session, effectively killing
the bill. He is not alone. Many ranchers and farmers fear that if thousands of
rain barrels are set up in urban areas it could reduce the river flow by such a
large amount that it could reduce the water flows to such a degree that not
everyone could get their water rights.
On the other side of
the issue is a wide range of bipartisan support; so much so that a bill will most
likely come up in the next session to allow them in some form. Groups such
as the nonprofit Western Resources Advocates as well as water experts from CSU have
been meeting to discuss what needs to be done. Many urban planners and developers
would like to incorporate some type of rain water diversion and utilization to
improve drainage and flood control, as well as the backyard gardener who just wants
to use fresh unchlorinated water on their plants.
So who is right? Is it
stealing or just common sense to set up a rain barrel? I have had flood issues
in my basement and collecting the rain in a couple of large barrels would not
only help prevent flooding, it would save me money when I use it to water my
lawn and garden over the next couple of weeks. Am I really stealing it when I do
this? Can my actions have an impact on farms downstream? What can I do to make
it legal?
 | |
| Group of Colorado Lawmakers and rain barrel supporters. |
Upon reading this, the first thing that came to my head was that if storing barrels of rainwater for use on your property is stealing, why isn’t the use of solar panels stealing as well? Granted, they are very different things but the idea remains the same to me. When using solar, we are saving energy and helping the planet. Having very little knowledge of containing rainwater, my mind goes to the theory that using rainwater eliminates the need for a water treatment plant, or wherever outside water sources pull from, for that given property.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the fact this is considered stealing is crazy. In the long run, the water does return back into its cycle. Are there places where this is legal and is it having an impact on their agriculture industry?
Thank you for the insight and opening my mind to this issue!
I personally agree with the ideas of rain barrels. There has never been a moment where I could see keeping rain barrels as stealing in any form. When you mention that the rain is falling on your house, I think you should be able to determine where it goes. If the rain is causing flooding in your house then keeping barrels to collect the water is extremely beneficial to you and the place you are living in. You also will be able to use the water in a beneficial way by replacing it to water grass and or flowers. I also enjoy Elissa's comment on how solar panels could have this argument as well. Very cool.
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