Albert Lea, MN rainwater: 28,430 gallons off a roof
Rainwater from a roof in Albert Lea, MN
28,430gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Albert Lea, MN's normal 35.8 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Albert Lea, MN 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 Albert Lea 3se station (4.5 mi away). Albert Lea, MN ranks 4th wettest of the 103 cities covered in Minnesota.
Month by month in Albert Lea
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.89 | 707 | |
| Feb | 0.87 | 691 | |
| Mar | 1.94 | 1,542 | |
| Apr | 3.74 | 2,973 | 76 |
| May | 4.85 | 3,855 | |
| Jun | 5.44 | 4,324 | |
| Jul | 4.81 | 3,823 | |
| Aug | 4.27 | 3,394 | 10 |
| Sep | 3.71 | 2,949 | 80 |
| Oct | 2.58 | 2,051 | 221 |
| Nov | 1.54 | 1,224 | |
| Dec | 1.13 | 898 |
Jun is the wettest month (5.44 in, 4,324 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (0.87 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 Albert Lea?
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 315 gallons to the garden in a normal year (81.5% 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 Albert Lea's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 315 | 27,125 |
| 110 gal | 315 | 27,125 |
| 165 gal | 315 | 27,125 |
| 275 gal | 315 | 27,125 |
| 550 gal | 315 | 27,125 |
| 1,000 gal | 315 | 27,125 |
| 1,500 gal | 315 | 27,125 |
| 2,500 gal | 315 | 27,125 |
| 5,000 gal | 315 | 27,125 |
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 Minnesota?
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