Clearwater, FL rainwater: 44,589 gallons off a roof
Clearwater, FL: gallons off the roof each year
44,589gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Clearwater, FL's normal 56.1 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Clearwater, 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 Clearwater 1.6 N station (1.7 mi away). Clearwater, FL ranks 86th wettest of the 173 cities covered in Florida.
Month by month in Clearwater
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.89 | 2,297 | |
| Feb | 2.69 | 2,138 | |
| Mar | 2.77 | 2,202 | |
| Apr | 2.93 | 2,329 | 177 |
| May | 2.19 | 1,741 | 269 |
| Jun | 8.75 | 6,955 | |
| Jul | 9.43 | 7,495 | |
| Aug | 9.26 | 7,360 | |
| Sep | 7.26 | 5,770 | |
| Oct | 3.12 | 2,480 | 153 |
| Nov | 1.61 | 1,280 | |
| Dec | 3.20 | 2,543 |
Jul is the wettest month (9.43 in, 7,495 gal off the roof); Nov the driest (1.61 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 Clearwater
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 515 gallons to the garden in a normal year (85.9% of its need).
If you buy one, a 55-gallon barrel with a downspout diverter is the whole job. Check that the overflow points away from your foundation, because most of Clearwater's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 515 | 42,964 |
| 110 gal | 532 | 42,946 |
| 165 gal | 532 | 42,946 |
| 275 gal | 532 | 42,946 |
| 550 gal | 532 | 42,946 |
| 1,000 gal | 532 | 42,946 |
| 1,500 gal | 532 | 42,946 |
| 2,500 gal | 532 | 42,946 |
| 5,000 gal | 532 | 42,946 |
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