Saratoga Springs, NY rainwater: 37,714 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Saratoga Springs, NY collects
37,714gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Saratoga Springs, NY's normal 47.5 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Saratoga Springs, 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 Saratoga Springs 0.5 S station (0.5 mi away). Saratoga Springs, NY ranks 40th wettest of the 90 cities covered in New York.
Month by month in Saratoga Springs
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.34 | 2,655 | |
| Feb | 2.71 | 2,154 | |
| Mar | 3.71 | 2,949 | |
| Apr | 3.82 | 3,036 | 66 |
| May | 3.87 | 3,076 | 60 |
| Jun | 5.09 | 4,046 | |
| Jul | 5.21 | 4,141 | |
| Aug | 4.16 | 3,306 | 24 |
| Sep | 3.79 | 3,012 | 70 |
| Oct | 4.59 | 3,648 | |
| Nov | 3.21 | 2,551 | |
| Dec | 3.95 | 3,139 |
Jul is the wettest month (5.21 in, 4,141 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.71 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 Saratoga Springs
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 165 gallons to the garden in a normal year (75.2% 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 Saratoga Springs's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 165 | 36,168 |
| 110 gal | 165 | 36,168 |
| 165 gal | 165 | 36,168 |
| 275 gal | 165 | 36,168 |
| 550 gal | 165 | 36,168 |
| 1,000 gal | 165 | 36,168 |
| 1,500 gal | 165 | 36,168 |
| 2,500 gal | 165 | 36,168 |
| 5,000 gal | 165 | 36,168 |
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