Loveland, CO rainwater: 12,312 gallons off a roof
Loveland, CO: gallons off the roof each year
12,312gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Loveland, CO's normal 15.5 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Loveland, 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 Loveland 3.0 Nne station (1.6 mi away). Loveland, CO ranks 33rd wettest of the 53 cities covered in Colorado.
Month by month in Loveland
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.43 | 342 | |
| Feb | 0.53 | 421 | |
| Mar | 1.29 | 1,025 | |
| Apr | 1.88 | 1,494 | 308 |
| May | 2.75 | 2,186 | 199 |
| Jun | 1.58 | 1,256 | 345 |
| Jul | 1.66 | 1,319 | 335 |
| Aug | 1.46 | 1,160 | 360 |
| Sep | 1.48 | 1,176 | 358 |
| Oct | 1.20 | 954 | 393 |
| Nov | 0.69 | 548 | |
| Dec | 0.54 | 429 |
May is the wettest month (2.75 in, 2,186 gal off the roof); Jan the driest (0.43 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 Loveland
Best fit: 2 linked 55-gallon barrels, which delivers about 1,994 gallons to the garden in a normal year (86.7% 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 Loveland's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 1,387 | 10,340 |
| 110 gal | 1,994 | 9,732 |
| 165 gal (over cap) | 2,011 | 9,715 |
| 275 gal (over cap) | 2,011 | 9,715 |
| 550 gal (over cap) | 2,011 | 9,715 |
| 1,000 gal (over cap) | 2,011 | 9,715 |
| 1,500 gal (over cap) | 2,011 | 9,715 |
| 2,500 gal (over cap) | 2,011 | 9,715 |
| 5,000 gal (over cap) | 2,011 | 9,715 |
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