North Tonawanda, NY rainwater: 31,903 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in North Tonawanda, NY collects
31,903gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under North Tonawanda, NY's normal 40.1 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In North Tonawanda, 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 N Tonawanda station (0.7 mi away). North Tonawanda, NY ranks 80th wettest of the 90 cities covered in New York.
Month by month in North Tonawanda
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.19 | 2,535 | |
| Feb | 2.44 | 1,939 | |
| Mar | 2.94 | 2,337 | |
| Apr | 3.64 | 2,893 | 89 |
| May | 3.38 | 2,686 | 121 |
| Jun | 3.30 | 2,623 | 131 |
| Jul | 3.46 | 2,750 | 111 |
| Aug | 3.10 | 2,464 | 156 |
| Sep | 3.90 | 3,100 | 56 |
| Oct | 3.94 | 3,132 | 51 |
| Nov | 3.46 | 2,750 | |
| Dec | 3.39 | 2,694 |
Oct is the wettest month (3.94 in, 3,132 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.44 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 North Tonawanda?
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 541 gallons to the garden in a normal year (75.7% 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 North Tonawanda's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 541 | 29,952 |
| 110 gal | 541 | 29,952 |
| 165 gal | 541 | 29,952 |
| 275 gal | 541 | 29,952 |
| 550 gal | 541 | 29,952 |
| 1,000 gal | 541 | 29,952 |
| 1,500 gal | 541 | 29,952 |
| 2,500 gal | 541 | 29,952 |
| 5,000 gal | 541 | 29,952 |
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