Elko, NV rainwater: 7,940 gallons off a roof
Elko, NV: gallons off the roof each year
7,940gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Elko, NV's normal 10.0 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
Elko, NV has gaps between storms long enough to drain a single barrel. Around 550 gallons of storage catches most of what is worth catching.
Rainfall: NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, the Elko Rgnl Ap station (1.3 mi away). Elko, NV ranks 2nd wettest of the 10 cities covered in Nevada.
Month by month in Elko
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1.19 | 946 | |
| Feb | 0.89 | 707 | |
| Mar | 0.97 | 771 | |
| Apr | 1.05 | 835 | 411 |
| May | 1.22 | 970 | 390 |
| Jun | 0.57 | 453 | 471 |
| Jul | 0.36 | 286 | 497 |
| Aug | 0.33 | 262 | 501 |
| Sep | 0.59 | 469 | 469 |
| Oct | 0.74 | 588 | 450 |
| Nov | 0.88 | 699 | |
| Dec | 1.20 | 954 |
May is the wettest month (1.22 in, 970 gal off the roof); Aug the driest (0.33 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 Elko
Best fit: a 550-gallon tote or tank, which delivers about 2,849 gallons to the garden in a normal year (89.3% of its need).
If you buy one, link barrels with a short hose at the base so they fill and drain together, and check the overflow points away from the house.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 880 | 6,580 |
| 110 gal | 1,627 | 5,833 |
| 165 gal | 2,077 | 5,383 |
| 275 gal | 2,574 | 4,886 |
| 550 gal | 2,849 | 4,611 |
| 1,000 gal | 2,975 | 4,485 |
| 1,500 gal | 2,975 | 4,485 |
| 2,500 gal | 2,975 | 4,485 |
| 5,000 gal | 2,975 | 3,970 |
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 Nevada?
Nevada law changed after 2015 (AB138, 2017 session). The current rule has not been verified here yet; check with the Nevada Division of Water Resources before installing.
From the stale; not yet re-checked against current law, so check with your state water agency before building anything large. Source