Humm… I thought we paid for the privilege of having drinking water delivered into our personal plumbing system, not for the water itself.
For many years we had public taps in scattered places around the country to be used by the citizens with no charge (there’re a lot less of them now, since they were mainly used by people who had no indoor plumbing and needed water for their daily needs, but they still exist) – and even now most public parks and gardens have drinking water available in fountains.

Rain water comes from the sea, a river, clouds, and everywhere else water exists in the world. Why should any of us have to pay for it when it falls on a particular territory, if a few days later it may end up in the sea, or a river, or clouds again?
Any day now I’ll be charged for filling a balloon with my breath and keeping the air for myself…

I'm not sure you live in colorado, but I thought I'd give you an overview anyway.

Water rights are a huge deal in Colorado, and have been for quite a while (obviously since the 19th century). Part of the reason is because the Continental Divide runs right through the "middle" of the state. The eastern portion goes east, and the snow/water on the western side goes west.

Colorado sells water to different states (California in particular), and lawmakers have made laws to claim rainwater as state property, because of the obligations it has to other states.

Is it stupid? yes. But there is a reason for it. I'm glad lawmakers are changing it now though.

No, I don't live in Colorado and... well, that's an explanation (the one you gave here), but does it make it right?
Aren't the people who live in the state, the State itself? If not, they should be, since it's their money which pays for everything that goes on there. How can you steal from yourself?

Just so it makes sense, when I say 'I thought we paid for the privilege (...)- blah blah', I mean 'we' as a human society, no mater the state or even the country.