Rain barrels are becoming a perennial subject for the Colorado legislature, even as they are an increasingly common way to collect storm water for watering the lawn or washing the car. Public broadcaster KUNC says rain barrels are a touchy subject because of the larger issue of water rights “and the competition for every last bit of water” in the often-arid West. An attempt to legalize the devices failed in the legislature but new legislation means there will be another debate next year.
State Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, who believes rain barrels reduce the water supply for people downstream, is floating a measure to allow the barrels if owners register them and make up for water that no longer runs off their property. Sonnenberg says his approach “honors the prior-appropriation system and Colorado water law.” KUNC says water experts consider the amount of water involved negligible. Ellen Roberts, who chairs the Water Resources Review committee, says it’s hard to explain why the issue is so controversial. She told KUNC that in her district in southwestern Colorado, “those who want to use rain barrels, use rain barrels today, and a lot of people across party lines were appalled that the legislature was struggling so much with this.”