Lafayette, CO rainwater: 12,717 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Lafayette, CO collects
12,717gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Lafayette, CO's normal 16.0 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Lafayette, CO 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 Lafayette 0.4 Wsw station (0.4 mi away). Lafayette, CO ranks 31st wettest of the 53 cities covered in Colorado.
Month by month in Lafayette
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.55 | 437 | |
| Feb | 0.75 | 596 | |
| Mar | 1.51 | 1,200 | |
| Apr | 2.30 | 1,828 | 256 |
| May | 2.29 | 1,820 | 257 |
| Jun | 1.72 | 1,367 | 328 |
| Jul | 1.60 | 1,272 | 343 |
| Aug | 1.12 | 890 | 403 |
| Sep | 1.51 | 1,200 | 354 |
| Oct | 1.28 | 1,017 | 383 |
| Nov | 0.81 | 644 | |
| Dec | 0.56 | 445 |
Apr is the wettest month (2.30 in, 1,828 gal off the roof); Jan the driest (0.55 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 Lafayette?
Best fit: 2 linked 55-gallon barrels, which delivers about 2,020 gallons to the garden in a normal year (87.0% 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 Lafayette's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 1,339 | 10,823 |
| 110 gal | 2,020 | 10,142 |
| 165 gal (over cap) | 2,050 | 10,112 |
| 275 gal (over cap) | 2,050 | 10,112 |
| 550 gal (over cap) | 2,050 | 10,112 |
| 1,000 gal (over cap) | 2,050 | 10,112 |
| 1,500 gal (over cap) | 2,050 | 10,112 |
| 2,500 gal (over cap) | 2,050 | 10,112 |
| 5,000 gal (over cap) | 2,050 | 10,112 |
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 Colorado?
Most households may use rain barrels: a maximum of two rain barrels with a combined storage of 110 gallons or less per household, rooftop runoff only, used outdoors on the same property (HB16-1005). Larger rooftop collection only for qualifying well-permit holders (SB09-080) or pilot projects (HB09-1129).
Checked against the current source on 2026-11-06. Source