Americus, GA rainwater: 42,403 gallons off a roof
Rainwater from a roof in Americus, GA
42,403gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Americus, GA's normal 53.4 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Americus, GA 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 Americus station (3.3 mi away). Americus, GA ranks 44th wettest of the 101 cities covered in Georgia.
Month by month in Americus
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.69 | 3,728 | |
| Feb | 4.72 | 3,751 | |
| Mar | 4.68 | 3,720 | |
| Apr | 4.78 | 3,799 | |
| May | 3.12 | 2,480 | 153 |
| Jun | 4.79 | 3,807 | |
| Jul | 5.95 | 4,729 | |
| Aug | 4.62 | 3,672 | |
| Sep | 4.40 | 3,497 | |
| Oct | 2.71 | 2,154 | 204 |
| Nov | 3.50 | 2,782 | |
| Dec | 5.39 | 4,284 |
Jul is the wettest month (5.95 in, 4,729 gal off the roof); Oct 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.
Barrel or cistern in Americus?
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 307 gallons to the garden in a normal year (85.8% 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 Americus's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 307 | 40,986 |
| 110 gal | 307 | 40,986 |
| 165 gal | 307 | 40,986 |
| 275 gal | 307 | 40,986 |
| 550 gal | 307 | 40,986 |
| 1,000 gal | 307 | 40,986 |
| 1,500 gal | 307 | 40,986 |
| 2,500 gal | 307 | 40,986 |
| 5,000 gal | 307 | 40,986 |
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 Georgia?
Legal. Outdoor irrigation use is unrestricted; indoor non-potable systems must follow Appendix I 'Rainwater Recycling Systems' of the Georgia amendments to the state plumbing code. No state storage cap; potable use depends on local rules.
Checked against the current source on 2026-11-06. Source