I also thought it was recently changed.
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The following info comes from the Colorado Division of Water Resources web page:
Rooftop Precipitation Collection
Although it is permissible to direct your residential property roof downspouts toward landscaped areas, unless you own a specific type of exempt well permit, you cannot collect rainwater in any other manner, such as storage in a cistern or tank, for later use. Please review our publications below, as well as links to CSU Extension's information on this topic and Colorado law on the subject as written in the Colorado Revised Statutes, before applying for a Rooftop Precipitation Collection System Permit. If your well has not been registered, you will also need to Register an Existing Well before applying.
Rainwater Harvesting Pilot Projects
House Bill 09-1129 allows for Pilot Projects for the Beneficial Use of Captured Precipitation in New Real Estate Developments. The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) has developed criteria and guidelines for applications and the selection process for new development pilot projects to evaluate the feasibility of rainwater harvesting as a water conservation measure in Colorado, when paired with efficient landscaping and irrigation practices.
It did last year... people on domestic wells with no access to city/municipal water systems can now collect their rooftop melt/rain for later use in a garden, landscaping, etc.
City dwellers-no-go.
People living in any city will still not be allowed to collect their rain water.... at least at this time.
Yeah. I was told by someone I couldn't collect the rainwater from my roof as it belonged to the C&C of Denver. Fine. Then Denver can keep their damn water off my roof. If they don't keep it off my roof, I'll continue to collect it.
I collect mine from one spot, due to engineering that the county of Boulder approved. I have one drop spout right were it is causing my driveway slab to collapse. I didn't do this, previous owner designed the drainage system. So I collect it and use it to water landscaping in the front of the house. They can kiss my ass. Perhaps If I am fined, I will sue them for negligence in approval of permitted design.
Rain is God-given so quench your bodies, water your plants and vegetation, and prosper. For all of those that claim it is theirs, come on my property and get it.
Not sure what the penalty is.
Fellow I bought my house from was quite the landscaper. He told me he had just finished building a circulating pond system that woud flow from the front of the house, around the side, and to the back before being pumped back to the front. He claimed some county guy showed-up and made him go around with a screwdriver and poke holes in the plastic liner and threatened him with a significant fine if he didn't comply.