Alachua, FL rainwater: 44,899 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Alachua, FL collects
44,899gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Alachua, FL's normal 56.5 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Alachua, FL a single barrel does most of the work. Storms come often enough that a small tank refills before it runs dry, and a bigger one would mostly sit full.
Rainfall: NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, the Gainesville 6.5 Nw station (5.0 mi away). Alachua, FL ranks 78th wettest of the 173 cities covered in Florida.
Month by month in Alachua
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.44 | 2,734 | |
| Feb | 2.98 | 2,369 | |
| Mar | 4.11 | 3,267 | |
| Apr | 3.46 | 2,750 | 111 |
| May | 3.89 | 3,092 | 57 |
| Jun | 7.56 | 6,009 | |
| Jul | 7.56 | 6,009 | |
| Aug | 8.44 | 6,708 | |
| Sep | 6.08 | 4,832 | |
| Oct | 3.67 | 2,917 | 85 |
| Nov | 2.07 | 1,645 | |
| Dec | 3.23 | 2,567 |
Aug is the wettest month (8.44 in, 6,708 gal off the roof); Nov the driest (2.07 in). Garden shortfall is what a 200 sq ft vegetable bed needs beyond the rain that lands on it, April to October.
Which tank size is worth it in Alachua
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 218 gallons to the garden in a normal year (86.1% of its need).
Before you buy, a 55-gallon barrel with a downspout diverter is the whole job. Check that the overflow points away from your foundation, because most of Alachua's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 218 | 43,510 |
| 110 gal | 218 | 43,510 |
| 165 gal | 218 | 43,510 |
| 275 gal | 218 | 43,510 |
| 550 gal | 218 | 43,510 |
| 1,000 gal | 218 | 43,510 |
| 1,500 gal | 218 | 43,510 |
| 2,500 gal | 218 | 43,510 |
| 5,000 gal | 218 | 43,510 |
Simulated storm by storm through a normal year using the station's count of days with 0.1 in or more of rain each month.
Is rainwater collection legal in Florida?
Legal. Florida approves onsite non-potable use of rainwater for landscape irrigation, vehicle washing, filling pools and fountains and, in some local jurisdictions, toilet/urinal flushing (Florida Plumbing Code). No state storage cap or registration for non-potable collection.
Checked against the current source on 2026-11-06. Source