Oswego, NY rainwater: 34,280 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Oswego, NY collects
34,280gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Oswego, NY's normal 43.1 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Oswego, 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 Oswego station (1.8 mi away). Oswego, NY ranks 63rd wettest of the 90 cities covered in New York.
Month by month in Oswego
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.76 | 2,988 | |
| Feb | 2.85 | 2,265 | |
| Mar | 3.03 | 2,408 | |
| Apr | 3.48 | 2,766 | 108 |
| May | 3.29 | 2,615 | 132 |
| Jun | 3.38 | 2,686 | 121 |
| Jul | 3.37 | 2,678 | 122 |
| Aug | 3.45 | 2,742 | 112 |
| Sep | 3.92 | 3,116 | 54 |
| Oct | 4.59 | 3,648 | |
| Nov | 4.12 | 3,275 | |
| Dec | 3.89 | 3,092 |
Oct is the wettest month (4.59 in, 3,648 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.85 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 Oswego?
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 494 gallons to the garden in a normal year (76.1% of its need).
If you buy one, a 55-gallon barrel with a downspout diverter is the whole job. Check that the overflow points away from your foundation, because most of Oswego's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 494 | 32,286 |
| 110 gal | 494 | 32,286 |
| 165 gal | 494 | 32,286 |
| 275 gal | 494 | 32,286 |
| 550 gal | 494 | 32,286 |
| 1,000 gal | 494 | 32,286 |
| 1,500 gal | 494 | 32,286 |
| 2,500 gal | 494 | 32,286 |
| 5,000 gal | 494 | 32,286 |
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