Rain barrels by Sandy Hollingsworth

Good news for gardeners! Rain barrels are now legal in Colorado. In 2017 House Bill 16-1005 legislation went into effect in August 2016, which allows homeowners to capture rain into containers up to 110 gallons total at any given time. The containers, usually barrels, can be joined together with hoses or separate.  The rain may only be harvested from your primary house, not a garage, barn or shed, before it hits the ground. It can also be collected on multi-family buildings with four or fewer units. Homeowner associations will allow them, although HOAs can make rules about where they are located, the color and style. At your own house, you can use home-made versions or store-bought ones, paint them fun colors or have them blend in as you wish. To be in conformance with Colorado water law the container must have a sealable lid. This is in part to reduce mosquitoes from breeding in the open water. A spigot low on the rain barrel allows you to turn it on to put water in a watering can or