This can be a big problem. We may solve it at our place with some form of rainwater harvesting. In the meantime, the link at the bottom of this post will provide an interesting read and some ideas. Good luck. Let us know how things turn out.

SR

Here is a link that might be useful: Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is great, but it is illegal in Colorado to collect the water from your downspouts unless you own the water rights on your land (and most new homeowners don't). Rainwater that falls on your property here does not legally belong to you. There are very strict water rights in the western states and you have to be very careful with what you do out here. Our neighborhood uses untreated water to water our greenbelts and it is water that is collected in our neighborhood ponds from run-off, but we have to pay for the right to use this water since it is not "owned" by us even though it is on our land. Water rights in the western states is very interesting.

Re: dlynn

Very interesting indeed! Actually, sounds insane to an outsider, however, I'm sure there are good reasons.

SR

Crazy as this may seem, the law actually says rain water harvesting is illegal in Colorado. Water rights on property in the west is similar to mineral rights on property in Texas and other states, if that helps to explain it a little. Here's a link to Colorado law on water rights. We were amazed when someone first told us about it. It seems ridiculous that you don't have the right to collect rain water in your own yard, but you don't.

Here is a link that might be useful: Colorado water rights