Lackawanna, NY rainwater: 32,969 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Lackawanna, NY collects
32,969gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Lackawanna, NY's normal 41.5 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Lackawanna, 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 West Seneca 1.9 W station (2.5 mi away). Lackawanna, NY ranks 72nd wettest of the 90 cities covered in New York.
Month by month in Lackawanna
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.91 | 2,313 | |
| Feb | 2.36 | 1,876 | |
| Mar | 2.81 | 2,233 | |
| Apr | 3.37 | 2,678 | 122 |
| May | 3.36 | 2,671 | 123 |
| Jun | 3.99 | 3,171 | 45 |
| Jul | 3.35 | 2,663 | 125 |
| Aug | 3.27 | 2,599 | 135 |
| Sep | 3.89 | 3,092 | 57 |
| Oct | 4.44 | 3,529 | |
| Nov | 3.83 | 3,044 | |
| Dec | 3.90 | 3,100 |
Oct is the wettest month (4.44 in, 3,529 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.36 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 Lackawanna
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 459 gallons to the garden in a normal year (75.6% 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 Lackawanna's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 459 | 31,085 |
| 110 gal | 459 | 31,085 |
| 165 gal | 459 | 31,085 |
| 275 gal | 459 | 31,085 |
| 550 gal | 459 | 31,085 |
| 1,000 gal | 459 | 31,085 |
| 1,500 gal | 459 | 31,085 |
| 2,500 gal | 459 | 31,085 |
| 5,000 gal | 459 | 31,085 |
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