Wellington, CO rainwater: 11,095 gallons off a roof
Wellington, CO: gallons off the roof each year
11,095gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Wellington, CO's normal 14.0 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Wellington, 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 Wel 1.8 Ne station (2.9 mi away). Wellington, CO ranks 48th wettest of the 53 cities covered in Colorado.
Month by month in Wellington
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.27 | 215 | |
| Feb | 0.27 | 215 | |
| Mar | 0.84 | 668 | |
| Apr | 1.74 | 1,383 | 325 |
| May | 2.47 | 1,963 | 234 |
| Jun | 2.10 | 1,669 | 281 |
| Jul | 1.81 | 1,439 | 317 |
| Aug | 1.37 | 1,089 | 372 |
| Sep | 1.35 | 1,073 | 374 |
| Oct | 1.11 | 882 | 404 |
| Nov | 0.52 | 413 | |
| Dec | 0.11 | 87 |
May is the wettest month (2.47 in, 1,963 gal off the roof); Dec the driest (0.11 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 Wellington
Best fit: 2 linked 55-gallon barrels, which delivers about 1,924 gallons to the garden in a normal year (83.4% 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 Wellington's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 1,334 | 9,251 |
| 110 gal | 1,924 | 8,662 |
| 165 gal (over cap) | 2,030 | 8,556 |
| 275 gal (over cap) | 2,044 | 8,541 |
| 550 gal (over cap) | 2,044 | 8,541 |
| 1,000 gal (over cap) | 2,044 | 8,541 |
| 1,500 gal (over cap) | 2,044 | 8,541 |
| 2,500 gal (over cap) | 2,044 | 8,541 |
| 5,000 gal (over cap) | 2,044 | 8,541 |
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