Bedford, IN rainwater: 38,850 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Bedford, IN collects
38,850gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Bedford, IN's normal 48.9 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Bedford, IN 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 Bedford 4 Sw station (2.2 mi away). Bedford, IN ranks 8th wettest of the 88 cities covered in Indiana.
Month by month in Bedford
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.68 | 2,925 | |
| Feb | 2.99 | 2,376 | |
| Mar | 4.30 | 3,418 | |
| Apr | 5.40 | 4,292 | |
| May | 5.56 | 4,419 | |
| Jun | 5.14 | 4,085 | |
| Jul | 4.08 | 3,243 | 34 |
| Aug | 3.41 | 2,710 | 117 |
| Sep | 3.39 | 2,694 | 120 |
| Oct | 3.43 | 2,726 | 115 |
| Nov | 3.89 | 3,092 | |
| Dec | 3.61 | 2,869 |
May is the wettest month (5.56 in, 4,419 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.99 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 Bedford
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 317 gallons to the garden in a normal year (82.3% 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 Bedford's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 317 | 37,273 |
| 110 gal | 317 | 37,273 |
| 165 gal | 317 | 37,273 |
| 275 gal | 317 | 37,273 |
| 550 gal | 317 | 37,273 |
| 1,000 gal | 317 | 37,273 |
| 1,500 gal | 317 | 37,273 |
| 2,500 gal | 317 | 37,273 |
| 5,000 gal | 317 | 37,273 |
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 Indiana?
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