Steamboat Springs, CO rainwater: 22,771 gallons off a roof
Rainwater from a roof in Steamboat Springs, CO
22,771gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Steamboat Springs, CO's normal 28.6 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Steamboat Springs, 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 Steamboat Springs 0.7 Ese station (0.8 mi away). Steamboat Springs, CO ranks 1st wettest of the 53 cities covered in Colorado.
Month by month in Steamboat Springs
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.83 | 2,249 | |
| Feb | 2.63 | 2,090 | |
| Mar | 2.12 | 1,685 | |
| Apr | 3.11 | 2,472 | 155 |
| May | 3.11 | 2,472 | 155 |
| Jun | 1.58 | 1,256 | 345 |
| Jul | 1.36 | 1,081 | 373 |
| Aug | 1.56 | 1,240 | 348 |
| Sep | 2.21 | 1,757 | 267 |
| Oct | 2.56 | 2,035 | 223 |
| Nov | 2.81 | 2,233 | |
| Dec | 2.77 | 2,202 |
Apr is the wettest month (3.11 in, 2,472 gal off the roof); Jul the driest (1.36 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 Steamboat Springs?
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 1,408 gallons to the garden in a normal year (75.5% 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 Steamboat Springs's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 1,408 | 20,223 |
| 110 gal | 1,514 | 20,117 |
| 165 gal (over cap) | 1,514 | 20,117 |
| 275 gal (over cap) | 1,514 | 20,117 |
| 550 gal (over cap) | 1,514 | 20,117 |
| 1,000 gal (over cap) | 1,514 | 20,117 |
| 1,500 gal (over cap) | 1,514 | 20,117 |
| 2,500 gal (over cap) | 1,514 | 20,117 |
| 5,000 gal (over cap) | 1,514 | 20,117 |
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