Rain barrel stand and my last couple of days

dforeman · Post by **dforeman** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 3:53 pm

I see. Cools the surrounding area by evaporation. Definitely, would not work here in Maryland. I would not say we live in a rain forest but it is still fairly humid throughout most of the year.

saminmn · Post by **saminmn** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:58 am

Today I was watching the output of neighbor's sump pump get pumped out into the street and then into storm sewer system. We're talking several gallons a minute cycling at about 75% on. I have often wondered if the city has a main that has sprung a leak. Anyway, I'm thinking she could fill an 55 gallon barrel about every hour

Rain gardens using gutter runoff are popular here, but I don't think anyone has started grabbing the sump output here...and the neighbor is not the only one whose sump has substantial output

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:50 am

saminmn wrote:Today I was watching the output of neighbor's sump pump get pumped out into the street and then into storm sewer system. We're talking several gallons a minute cycling at about 75% on. I have often wondered if the city has a main that has sprung a leak. Anyway, I'm thinking she could fill an 55 gallon barrel about every hour

Rain gardens using gutter runoff are popular here, but I don't think anyone has started grabbing the sump output here...and the neighbor is not the only one whose sump has substantial output

Anyone watching the water level of Lake Superior?:D

judaspre1982 · Post by **judaspre1982** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:04 pm

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fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:10 pm

When we moved back to Colorado we were informed rain barrels are not allowed here. It seems the state owns all the water and it is illegal to slow or stop the flow of their water from ones property. However if their water damages your property as it crosses it the state considers that an act of God and refuses to accept any responsibility for damage which is caused by their water. Go figure.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:16 pm

fjimp wrote:When we moved back to Colorado we were informed rain barrels are not allowed here. It seems the state owns all the water and it is illegal to slow or stop the flow of their water from ones property. However if their water damages your property as it crosses it the state considers that an act of God and refuses to accept any responsibility for damage which is caused by their water. Go figure.

Over thirty years ago a friend of mine transfered to Boulder Colo. He told me at the time they had a complicated water plan. Apparently each piece of property was aloted so many units of water. You could use that water but if you exceeded your alloted units you were severely penaltized. Somehow this was applied to streams, ponds, wells and piped in water.

I know I didn't fully understand all he was telling me but I think he told me if you had a river running through your property you were only allowed to use x number of units. If you used more you were in trouble and you could not damn it up to retain anymore than your allotted units.

He never mentioned rain barrels or run off but from what he was telling me I can see how catching water the surpasses your allotted units would be illegal.

He said that was law that was made to allow living in near desert conditions.

Right now we are having a down pour 2 inches yesterday 3 so far today and they say the weekend looks to be wet. Just north of me have had over 20 inches so far this month.

All that means is I get to mow the lawn every 4 days. Let it go for 7 and you are no longer mowing instead you are cutting hay.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:19 pm

Ed in Tampa wrote:Over thirty years ago a friend of mine transfered to Boulder Colo. He told me at the time they had a complicated water plan. Apparently each piece of property was aloted so many units of water. You could use that water but if you exceeded your alloted units you were severely penaltized. Somehow this was applied to streams, ponds, wells and piped in water.

I know I didn't fully understand all he was telling me but I think he told me if you had a river running through your property you were only allowed to use x number of units. If you used more you were in trouble and you could not damn it up to retain anymore than your allotted units.
.

In the early 1970's my wife and i owned an acre of land thru which an irrigation ditch ran. Our property purchase did not allow water allotment. A few months after purchasing our place we found a woman upstream who owned more inches of water than she needed and allowed us to purchase an inch. As I am old and suffer from memory shortages I do not remember how it was measured but that it was a very strictly enforced process. At that point in time rain barrels were allowed. Water law in Colorado is generally regarded to have been the earliest regulations written at the time of statehood. If one were to study Colorado history you would find that wars were fought and people died over water issues. Although we are known as Colorful Colorado, we live in a semi arid (almost desert) area. Yes our mountains and even the Denver area can be green and beautiful. Then again forest fires have always been common here. Our daughter lives in a western suburb of Denver. Three years ago a grass fire came within 1/2 mile of her home in the city. My wife grew up in southeastern Colorado where droughts are common. Be fortunate my friends and enjoy your rain. Jim

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:24 pm

I stand corrected. My bride found an article dated 2009 that allow a few rain barrels in a few approved pilot programs. Generally speaking not in cities unless a person has a well water permit. Trust me there are very few well permits currently held in Metro Denver. Jim

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:31 pm

The climate (rainfall) in an area should be part of the decisions one makes when they chose to live in any particular area. Because it is a matter of choice, I seldom complain about the weather here in Arizona. Believe me, most of the year we have very little opportunity to complain about too much rain.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/?mystation=KTUS

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 7:22 pm

reible wrote: I used the term "speed wrench"
Ed

I grew up calling them a "speed handle" but I have also heard them called "spinner".

Today I usually use a light impact wrench for such things. I am fond of a small 3/8's drive with a butterfly valve. Like this.

[ATTACH]17802[/ATTACH]
I have a small flock of impact's in the farm shop. The daily workhorse is a 625 ft lbs 1/2" drive that stays very busy. Not many things it won't spin apart.

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