Lake Wales, FL rainwater: 41,942 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Lake Wales, FL collects
41,942gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Lake Wales, FL's normal 52.8 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Lake Wales, FL 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 Mtn Lake station (1.2 mi away). Lake Wales, FL ranks 133rd wettest of the 173 cities covered in Florida.
Month by month in Lake Wales
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.64 | 2,098 | |
| Feb | 2.19 | 1,741 | |
| Mar | 2.76 | 2,194 | |
| Apr | 2.42 | 1,923 | 241 |
| May | 3.56 | 2,830 | 98 |
| Jun | 8.92 | 7,090 | |
| Jul | 7.81 | 6,207 | |
| Aug | 8.06 | 6,406 | |
| Sep | 6.89 | 5,476 | |
| Oct | 3.25 | 2,583 | 137 |
| Nov | 1.82 | 1,447 | |
| Dec | 2.45 | 1,947 |
Jun is the wettest month (8.92 in, 7,090 gal off the roof); Nov the driest (1.82 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 Lake Wales
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 401 gallons to the garden in a normal year (84.2% 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 Lake Wales's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 401 | 40,371 |
| 110 gal | 403 | 40,369 |
| 165 gal | 403 | 40,369 |
| 275 gal | 403 | 40,369 |
| 550 gal | 403 | 40,369 |
| 1,000 gal | 403 | 40,369 |
| 1,500 gal | 403 | 40,369 |
| 2,500 gal | 403 | 40,369 |
| 5,000 gal | 403 | 40,369 |
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 Florida?
Legal. Florida approves onsite non-potable use of rainwater for landscape irrigation, vehicle washing, filling pools and fountains and, in some local jurisdictions, toilet/urinal flushing (Florida Plumbing Code). No state storage cap or registration for non-potable collection.
Checked against the current source on 2026-11-06. Source