A dry climate but not in perpetual drought.

Is there a drought in Colorado?  A water shortage for the population?

Using ESRI's online database, I was able to create this map showing drought intensity across the US.  It is interesting to note the lack of drought occurrence within the state of Colorado.

Although the systems can be complex, the concept is simple.  Greywater is water returned to the ground.  Rainwater collection is returned to the ground.  These systems only delay the water's natural path and conserve use of water treated by treatment plants.  Current Colorado water law allows greywater systems installation while maintaining inspections and permitting to be decided by local government.   Rainwater barrel collection, although encouraged in states who routinely experience drought conditions, is still debated and restricted in Colorado.  

Does collecting rainwater in barrels reduce water levels downstream to water right's holders?

"Allowing 100 gallons of rainwater storage per household will not decrease surface runoff by any detectable amount on a typical lot" (Olson).

The Colorado Division of Water Institute assessed the effects of collecting 100 gallons of rainwater on a developed lot with two 50-gallon water collection barrels versus a native prairie lot and a developed lot.  The study concluded that, "[a]llowing 100 gallons of rainwater storage per household will not decrease surface runoff by any detectable amount on a typical lot" (Olson).

In fact, the study further showed that "development on previously undeveloped land has a significantly greater effect on surface runoff and infiltration than rainwater storage" (Olson). It seems the more appropriate way to protect water downstream would be to pass laws restricting building on undeveloped lands.

Works Cited

Mehren, Jennifer L. USA Drought Intensity 2000-Present. Berthoud. ArcMaps. ESRI. Web. 12 Mar. 2016.

Olson, Chris, and Larry Roesner. "Impacts of Rain Barrels on Surface Water Runoff." (n.d.): n. pag. Colorado.gov. Colorado Water Institute, 10 Sept. 2015. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.

"Rainwater, Graywater, and Storm Water." Rainwater, Graywater, and Storm Water. Colorado Division of Water Resources, 24 Feb. 2016. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

Greywater - Not a Black or White Issue

It seems easy, simple, and obvious. Water used while washing your hands could be caught and used to water a fruit tree. The tree doesn't need water treated at the local treatment plant. While it makes sense to try to reuse things when we can, greywater use is not so simple. The systems vary wildly in complexity and the dangers of contaminant exposure are very rare but also very real.

Here's a little quick reference comparison I worked up to help you compare collecting rain water in barrels and using a passive greywater system:

Rain Barrel Collection	Passive Greywater System
Especially helpful in times of drought	Especially helpful in times of drought
Hose directs water using gravity	Hose directs water using gravity
Not for human consumption but contact is safe	No contact with human, animal, or edible fruit/vegetables (Water)
Can collect too much water but overflow systems allow excess to flow like gutter system. (Bakacs)	Can produce excessive amounts of water and needs supervision (Water)
Can be stored fairly safely - screen to keep out bugs and add 1.5 cups bleach to 1 gallon of water (Bakacs)	Cannot be stored more than 24 hours or becomes black water (Curry)
Should be tested for ecoli but roof runoff safe level (Bakacs)	Cannot be used in a sprinkler system. Must avoid becoming airborne in case of contaminant content. (Water)
No changes to daily life necessary	Must adjust cleaning products, laundry detergent, and personal cleaning products. (Curry)
Apply to soil not to plant (Bakacs)	Apply to soil not to plant (Water)
Very simple. Requires no skill	Simple is best but can get very complex
Uses existing gutter system downspout	Set up is very site specific (Water)
Equipment $100 barrel	Equipment - $100-5,000 (Water)
No energy cost -uses gravity	Low to high energy cost - depending on need for pumps and filters
Mosquitos and other bugs - add 1.5 cups bleach to 1 gallon water (Bakacs)	Mosquitos and other bugs - treatment depends on the system (Water)

Regarding greywater systems specifically, I found that a company called Greywater Action and Art Ludwig's book "Create an Oasis with Grey Water" were both excellent sources of information. It's wise to keep in mind that any information on greywater use systems from a company is heavy on information that sells the product. Credit must be given to Greywater Action for being fair in mentioning the limitations of grey water use in the garden and touching on the risks of contaminants. While both sources agree that greywater use involves a level of understanding, Art Ludwig's all out seemingly exhaustive list of errors and misconceptions is far more helpful to a homeowner attempting a decision.  Both sources agree on emphasizing a simple system as best but Ludwig lends numbers to the reasoning when he explains that a "typical residential grey water system will save $5-$20 a worth of freshwater a month as best" which makes expensive systems not worth the effort.

It seems to me that grey water is much too complex to handle, store, and dispose of properly without adding the issue of building and maintaining a system over time. On the other hand, the rain barrel collection idea seems to build on the permaculture principles to plant where the water naturally settles, contour the earth to capture the water, and redirect water as it flows or falls.

Works Cited

Bakacs, Michele. "Rain Barrels Part IV: Testing and Applying Harvested Water to Irrigate a Vegetable Garden." Rutgers: New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Rutgers, Dec. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

Ludwig, Art. Create an Oasis with Greywater : Your Complete Guide to Choosing, Building, and Using Greywater Systems. Santa Barbara, CA :Oasis Design, 2000. Print.

"About Greywater Reuse." Greywateraction.org. Greywater Action, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

Recycling is good, right?

For the sake of being useful on a personal level, let's look at water use and conservation from the perspective of our individual homes.

How many gallons of water do you use per day?  If you have a few minutes to answer some questions, you can calculate it your daily usage here.  Merely being aware of when we are using water and wishing to reduce that usage can achieve wonders.

Permaculture attempts to work with humans, animals, and plants as part of a whole.  In assessing your landscape with Permaculture in mind, a person would plant where water naturally flows and/or divert water using land contouring techniques.  It is fairly difficult to hurt anything when you live with the flow of nature rather than struggling against it.

Just as the Mayans built dams to collect water during the rainy seasons, there are ways to save rain for another day today.  Barrels that sit at the end of your gutter downspouts are one idea as in Figure 1.  Even a small rainfall can yield a large collection off the surface of a roof.  I used this rainfall calculator to determine how many gallons of water I could collect off my 10ft by 10 ft shed after a mere half inch of rainfall.  I would have 31 gallons.  To put that into perspective, I just put in new toilets at my house that use 1.6 gallons per flush.

Figure 1. Rain Barrel. Amazon.com

What is greywater? This video covers the basics in about a minute and a half.

  Greywater Action. You Tube.

Greywater use is more complex than this video.  However, it is worth mentioning as a viable option for some.  I plan to discuss greywater in greater detail next time.

There are also a myriad of adorable ideas such as a water saving toilet tank sink.

Works Cited

 "GRACE's Water Footprint Calculator." Water Footprint Calculator. Web. 12 Mar. 2016. 

 "Rainwater Collection, Rain Barrel, Rainfall Calculator: Gardener's Supply." Gardeners Supply. Web. 12 Mar. 2016. 

 "Good Ideas RWURN-LIG Rain Wizard Rain Barrel Urn 65-Gallon, Light Granite." Amazon.com : : Rain Barrels : Patio, Lawn & Garden. Web. 12 Mar. 2016. 

 "What Is Greywater?" YouTube. YouTube. Web. 12 Mar. 2016. 

 "Build This Water-Saving Toilet Tank Sink | Make:." Make DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers. 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2016.

The Most Basic of Human Needs - Food, Water, and Shelter

Water is one of the most basic of human needs.  How Long Can a Person Survive Without Water?  According to the article titled the same, our fragile human bodies can last only 3 days without water!  

Efforts to direct water and use it responsibly date to the very beginning of human existence. In fact, archaeological evidence reveals elaborate Mayan water management techniques to direct and conserve water from heavy rains for use during dry seasons.  Lives depended upon these systems.  If only we could be so clever. (Figure 1)

Fig. 1. Mayan Dam

As the United States settled, rights to water were taken seriously and given out on a first come first served basis.  The State of Colorado has some of the most invasive water laws in the country.  

I wonder if the "way it's always been" is the way it should be.  Why do we have such strict water use laws in Colorado?  Is there really a water shortage here?  If so, is our water being used in the best way possible?  I am suspicious that those protecting their water rights so fiercely are arguing out of fear rather than facts.  I look forward to researching and exploring Colorado water law as it stands and as others wish to alter it.  I also want to review solutions used around the world to reduce and reuse water efficiently.  I wonder how often these solutions are used by the average residence and on what scale.  I can't help but think they are underused unless forced as in the case of major drought.

Works Cited

Binns, Corey. "How Long Can a Person Survive Without Water?" Live Science. Purch. 30 Nov. 2012. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.

Editor. Ancient Mayan Dam. Digital Image. Red Orbit Your Universe Online. Red Orbit. 18 July 2012. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.

Zralka, Jaroslaw, and Wieslaw Koszkul. "Archaeological Evidence for Ancient Maya Water Management: The Case of Nakum, Peten, Guatemala." Antiquity 89.344 (2015): 397-416. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Mar 2016.