Oneonta, NY rainwater: 35,568 gallons off a roof
Rainwater from a roof in Oneonta, NY
35,568gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Oneonta, NY's normal 44.8 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Oneonta, 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 Emmons station (3.0 mi away). Oneonta, NY ranks 55th wettest of the 90 cities covered in New York.
Month by month in Oneonta
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.30 | 2,623 | |
| Feb | 2.75 | 2,186 | |
| Mar | 3.50 | 2,782 | |
| Apr | 3.85 | 3,060 | 62 |
| May | 3.66 | 2,909 | 86 |
| Jun | 4.66 | 3,704 | |
| Jul | 4.48 | 3,561 | |
| Aug | 3.99 | 3,171 | 45 |
| Sep | 3.78 | 3,004 | 71 |
| Oct | 3.89 | 3,092 | 57 |
| Nov | 3.28 | 2,607 | |
| Dec | 3.61 | 2,869 |
Jun is the wettest month (4.66 in, 3,704 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.75 in). Garden shortfall is what a 200 sq ft vegetable bed needs beyond the rain that lands on it, April to October.
What size rain barrel for Oneonta
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 241 gallons to the garden in a normal year (74.9% 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 Oneonta's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 241 | 33,931 |
| 110 gal | 241 | 33,931 |
| 165 gal | 241 | 33,931 |
| 275 gal | 241 | 33,931 |
| 550 gal | 241 | 33,931 |
| 1,000 gal | 241 | 33,931 |
| 1,500 gal | 241 | 33,931 |
| 2,500 gal | 241 | 33,931 |
| 5,000 gal | 241 | 33,931 |
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