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People who use barrels to catch rain from their roofs breaking law, says State of Colorado (latimes.com)
submitted 5 years ago by LeNoir
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[–]msakas 24 points25 points26 points 5 years ago (12 children)
Yeah, and if I stand with my mouth open and drink it I am breaking the law, also any that get stuck in my hair, clothing..
And if it lands on my barbeque and instantly evaporates ditto I assume.
[–]-___- 16 points17 points18 points 5 years ago (10 children)
Really, we ought to make it a crime to have plants in your lawn. Every time it rains, those greedy things are sucking up the water agencies' precious fluid.
[–]ziegfried 12 points13 points14 points 5 years ago (8 children)
Actually, this is for the rich people who own "water rights".
Apparently according to Colorado law, the "water rights" for a piece of land are separate from the land itself, so you can own land and not own the water on it.
Just another way for poor people to get screwed, IMO.
[–]millstone 6 points7 points8 points 5 years ago (6 children)
It actually makes a lot of sense. Imagine a river that flows across multiple properties. If you owned all the water on your land, then you could damn the river or otherwise screw everyone downstream from you. Water rights protect everyone who has an interest in the river.
This rainwater provision sounds like a poor idea, though, because most of it doesn't make it to the river anyways.
[–]ziegfried 5 points6 points7 points 5 years ago (5 children)
It's 'dam' unless you are sending it to hell.
And the people downstream can't do anything with the water either unless they have water rights, making your example useless.
Your rights are not 'protected' because you can't use the water on your property for anything, since you don't have any right to it. Removing your rights does not protect them, regardless of what the Republicans keep telling you.
Plus, somehow this is solved in the other 49 states without making it illegal to catch rainwater.
[–]millstone 2 points3 points4 points 5 years ago (1 child)
Water rights normally permit you "reasonable" use of the water so long as it doesn't prevent others from doing the same.
But if there's very little water, then water rights are basically first come, first served. I think that's what's going on here.
And thanks for the spelling correction. I guess I swear more often than I retain water.
[–]ziegfried 5 points6 points7 points 5 years ago (0 children)
I would imagine that "reasonable" use of water would be catching rainwater for a small garden.
And with 'first come, first served' I would imagine that if you are catching it out of the air that you would be first in line.
I know that water is important, but I still just can't see why the state would make criminals out of people with rain barrels.
The only thing I can guess is that since water bills can be $200 a month over there (I heard that from someone who used to live over there), that they want you to pay through the nose for the stuff rather than get it for free. That makes a lot more sense.
[–]Garbagio 0 points1 point2 points 5 years ago* (2 children)
It's not illegal, it's unlawful. There's a difference. Perhaps the other states aren't in such dire straits as Colorado; Either way, it's all about stating your intent and using the language of Law to do so. It's not about rich and poor, it's about you and due diligence.
[–]ziegfried 1 point2 points3 points 5 years ago (1 child)
I hadn't heard that about illegal and unlawful, but do you have a point for the rest of it?
I am saying that a law against catching rainwater is unjust, and unless I am wrong it sounds like like you are just saying 'sit down and shut up'.
[–]Garbagio 2 points3 points4 points 5 years ago* (0 children)
no no, not at all. I'd rather you ask questions, I'll tell you if I don't know. The point is, no matter how obvious things may seem, there may be another story to any action, including collecting water. Please check my example here for another perspective that may answer your question.
The law(s) in question aren't about being against catching rainwater specifically. The Law is against making a claim without ever discussing what it is you want to use the public resource for and what impact it may have. If I wanted the space above your home for collecting solar energy (and you haven't bought nor claimed the airspace above it) then why shouldn't I be able to use it? Sure, I might enshroud your house in shadow until the apparatus gets taken down but I think I should be allowed to without discussion. That's the mindset the law combats.
The fact that I didn't discuss it with you before I acted on public space, is what makes it unlawful. Merely assuming your actions are as natural a right as any other is where you will find conflict.
[–]AmericanGoyBlog 0 points1 point2 points 5 years ago (0 children)
Selling rain to the poor: Bolivia, Cochabamba, end of 2001
[–][deleted] 5 years ago (0 children)
[–]Garbagio 0 points1 point2 points 5 years ago (0 children)
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