Cortland, NY rainwater: 33,390 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Cortland, NY collects
33,390gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Cortland, NY's normal 42.0 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Cortland, NY 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 Freeville 1.5 Ne station (8.9 mi away). Cortland, NY ranks 71st wettest of the 90 cities covered in New York.
Month by month in Cortland
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.55 | 2,027 | |
| Feb | 2.35 | 1,868 | |
| Mar | 3.05 | 2,424 | |
| Apr | 3.50 | 2,782 | 106 |
| May | 3.76 | 2,988 | 74 |
| Jun | 4.26 | 3,386 | 11 |
| Jul | 3.98 | 3,163 | 46 |
| Aug | 4.07 | 3,235 | 35 |
| Sep | 4.18 | 3,322 | 21 |
| Oct | 4.04 | 3,211 | 39 |
| Nov | 3.20 | 2,543 | |
| Dec | 3.07 | 2,440 |
Jun is the wettest month (4.26 in, 3,386 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.35 in). Garden shortfall is what a 200 sq ft vegetable bed needs beyond the rain that lands on it, April to October.
Barrel or cistern in Cortland?
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 242 gallons to the garden in a normal year (73.0% of its need).
If you set one up, a 55-gallon barrel with a downspout diverter is the whole job. Check that the overflow points away from your foundation, because most of Cortland's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 242 | 31,798 |
| 110 gal | 242 | 31,798 |
| 165 gal | 242 | 31,798 |
| 275 gal | 242 | 31,798 |
| 550 gal | 242 | 31,798 |
| 1,000 gal | 242 | 31,798 |
| 1,500 gal | 242 | 31,798 |
| 2,500 gal | 242 | 31,798 |
| 5,000 gal | 242 | 31,798 |
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 New York?
No statewide rainwater harvesting regulations; check county for local incentives
From the 2015 (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory report 24347); not yet re-checked against current law, so check with your state water agency before building anything large. Source