Bellefontaine, OH rainwater: 33,890 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Bellefontaine, OH collects
33,890gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Bellefontaine, OH's normal 42.6 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Bellefontaine, OH 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 Bellefontaine station (0.9 mi away). Bellefontaine, OH ranks 65th wettest of the 176 cities covered in Ohio.
Month by month in Bellefontaine
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.04 | 2,416 | |
| Feb | 2.46 | 1,955 | |
| Mar | 3.20 | 2,543 | |
| Apr | 4.11 | 3,267 | 30 |
| May | 4.31 | 3,426 | 5 |
| Jun | 4.96 | 3,942 | |
| Jul | 4.45 | 3,537 | |
| Aug | 3.90 | 3,100 | 56 |
| Sep | 3.18 | 2,527 | 146 |
| Oct | 2.82 | 2,241 | 191 |
| Nov | 3.13 | 2,488 | |
| Dec | 3.08 | 2,448 |
Jun is the wettest month (4.96 in, 3,942 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.46 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 Bellefontaine
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 340 gallons to the garden in a normal year (79.5% 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 Bellefontaine's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 340 | 32,290 |
| 110 gal | 340 | 32,290 |
| 165 gal | 340 | 32,290 |
| 275 gal | 340 | 32,290 |
| 550 gal | 340 | 32,290 |
| 1,000 gal | 340 | 32,290 |
| 1,500 gal | 340 | 32,290 |
| 2,500 gal | 340 | 32,290 |
| 5,000 gal | 340 | 32,290 |
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 Ohio?
Legal. Ohio regulates rainwater cisterns used as a drinking-water source as private water systems (OAC chapter 3701-28): local health department permit, continuous disinfection and filtration. No state rule restricting non-potable collection or storage size.
Checked against the current source on 2026-11-06. Source