Lakeland, FL rainwater: 41,552 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Lakeland, FL collects
41,552gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Lakeland, FL's normal 52.3 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Lakeland, 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 Lakeland 5.3 Wnw station (5.4 mi away). Lakeland, FL ranks 142nd wettest of the 173 cities covered in Florida.
Month by month in Lakeland
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.83 | 2,249 | |
| Feb | 2.11 | 1,677 | |
| Mar | 2.80 | 2,225 | |
| Apr | 2.38 | 1,892 | 246 |
| May | 3.31 | 2,631 | 130 |
| Jun | 8.07 | 6,414 | |
| Jul | 8.88 | 7,058 | |
| Aug | 8.88 | 7,058 | |
| Sep | 6.31 | 5,015 | |
| Oct | 2.12 | 1,685 | 278 |
| Nov | 1.99 | 1,582 | |
| Dec | 2.60 | 2,066 |
Jul is the wettest month (8.88 in, 7,058 gal off the roof); Nov the driest (1.99 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 Lakeland
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 532 gallons to the garden in a normal year (81.4% of its need).
Before you buy, a 55-gallon barrel with a downspout diverter is the whole job. Check that the overflow points away from your foundation, because most of Lakeland's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 532 | 39,746 |
| 110 gal | 560 | 39,718 |
| 165 gal | 560 | 39,718 |
| 275 gal | 560 | 39,718 |
| 550 gal | 560 | 39,718 |
| 1,000 gal | 560 | 39,718 |
| 1,500 gal | 560 | 39,718 |
| 2,500 gal | 560 | 39,718 |
| 5,000 gal | 560 | 39,718 |
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