Dunkirk, NY rainwater: 37,205 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Dunkirk, NY collects
37,205gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Dunkirk, NY's normal 46.8 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Dunkirk, 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 Dunkirk station (0.6 mi away). Dunkirk, NY ranks 46th wettest of the 90 cities covered in New York.
Month by month in Dunkirk
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.35 | 2,663 | |
| Feb | 2.57 | 2,043 | |
| Mar | 3.01 | 2,392 | |
| Apr | 3.83 | 3,044 | 65 |
| May | 3.99 | 3,171 | 45 |
| Jun | 4.18 | 3,322 | 21 |
| Jul | 4.64 | 3,688 | |
| Aug | 3.88 | 3,084 | 59 |
| Sep | 4.37 | 3,473 | |
| Oct | 4.78 | 3,799 | |
| Nov | 4.06 | 3,227 | |
| Dec | 4.15 | 3,298 |
Oct is the wettest month (4.78 in, 3,799 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.57 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 Dunkirk
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 148 gallons to the garden in a normal year (78.1% 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 Dunkirk's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 148 | 35,782 |
| 110 gal | 148 | 35,782 |
| 165 gal | 148 | 35,782 |
| 275 gal | 148 | 35,782 |
| 550 gal | 148 | 35,782 |
| 1,000 gal | 148 | 35,782 |
| 1,500 gal | 148 | 35,782 |
| 2,500 gal | 148 | 35,782 |
| 5,000 gal | 148 | 35,782 |
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