Comments on: Quick Tip #9 http://newyorkrenovator.com/2008/01/quick-tip-9.html The challenges of updating an 1855 house and yard Mon, 21 May 2012 15:37:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Mrs Mecomber http://newyorkrenovator.com/2008/01/quick-tip-9.html#comment-119 Mrs Mecomber Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:49:00 +0000 http://newyorkrenovator.com/?p=150#comment-119 HOLY COW. And I thought New York was over-regulated. Wow. <br/><br/>However, we have far too MUCH water here. I suffer flooding with heavy rainfall. I only wish we could get it to CO somehow. <br/><br/>All the best with your water situation. Yeah, I's be thinking of moving, too. HOLY COW. And I thought New York was over-regulated. Wow.

However, we have far too MUCH water here. I suffer flooding with heavy rainfall. I only wish we could get it to CO somehow.

All the best with your water situation. Yeah, I’s be thinking of moving, too.

]]> By: Paula http://newyorkrenovator.com/2008/01/quick-tip-9.html#comment-118 Paula Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:34:00 +0000 http://newyorkrenovator.com/?p=150#comment-118 Yeah, I was pretty shocked too when I was told. But the water company and all the way up to the government told me it was against the law in the state of Colorado (and from my understanding parts of AZ and NM too). But it is from an OLD OLD law called prior appropriation, which basically says that the rainwater that falls on my property (which then falls off and becomes part of streams and rivers) belongs to someone else who has paid to access that stream/river. SO if I caught rainwater, I Would be stealing from them. It's insane, I know.<br/><br/>I was hoping to find a cheaper way than the grey water route. Especially since I am unsure how long we will be living here.<br/><br/>I would have thought during the drought they would have recended the law, but they didn't. And with the houses in Colorado being monitored by satellite (because we are now being charged for the runoff from our property and they need to monitor any changes we make to our property to know how much runoff we are accumulating based on what they call impervious surface), I cannot even sneak a rain catcher in. :(<br/><br/>Thanks for the suggestions anyway. :) Yeah, I was pretty shocked too when I was told. But the water company and all the way up to the government told me it was against the law in the state of Colorado (and from my understanding parts of AZ and NM too). But it is from an OLD OLD law called prior appropriation, which basically says that the rainwater that falls on my property (which then falls off and becomes part of streams and rivers) belongs to someone else who has paid to access that stream/river. SO if I caught rainwater, I Would be stealing from them. It’s insane, I know.

I was hoping to find a cheaper way than the grey water route. Especially since I am unsure how long we will be living here.

I would have thought during the drought they would have recended the law, but they didn’t. And with the houses in Colorado being monitored by satellite (because we are now being charged for the runoff from our property and they need to monitor any changes we make to our property to know how much runoff we are accumulating based on what they call impervious surface), I cannot even sneak a rain catcher in. :(

Thanks for the suggestions anyway. :)

]]> By: Mrs Mecomber http://newyorkrenovator.com/2008/01/quick-tip-9.html#comment-117 Mrs Mecomber Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:47:00 +0000 http://newyorkrenovator.com/?p=150#comment-117 Wow, Paula, you can't catch rainwater?!? I'm flabbergasted! Is it because of drought conditions? <br/><br/>Anyway, if you can't catch rain water and you have a dry basement, your only other recourse is to consider "gray water," which is the waste water that comes from your washing machine and dishwasher. You'd have to do some heavy-duty finagaling with the drainage system of your home, however. But it's your only other alternative if you really don't want to use municipal or well water for irrigation purposes. Wow, Paula, you can’t catch rainwater?!? I’m flabbergasted! Is it because of drought conditions?

Anyway, if you can’t catch rain water and you have a dry basement, your only other recourse is to consider “gray water,” which is the waste water that comes from your washing machine and dishwasher. You’d have to do some heavy-duty finagaling with the drainage system of your home, however. But it’s your only other alternative if you really don’t want to use municipal or well water for irrigation purposes.

]]> By: Paula http://newyorkrenovator.com/2008/01/quick-tip-9.html#comment-116 Paula Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:28:00 +0000 http://newyorkrenovator.com/?p=150#comment-116 Do you have any ideas for those who have a dry basement and live in a state where it is illegal to catch rainwater? (Yes, as insane as it is, there are a few states where it is illegal to catch rainwater because of prior appropriation laws, and we happen to live in one.) Do you have any ideas for those who have a dry basement and live in a state where it is illegal to catch rainwater? (Yes, as insane as it is, there are a few states where it is illegal to catch rainwater because of prior appropriation laws, and we happen to live in one.)

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