Chicago, IL rainwater: 27,357 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Chicago, IL collects
27,357gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Chicago, IL's normal 34.4 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Chicago, IL 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 Chicago Midway Ap station (4.9 mi away). Chicago, IL ranks 221st wettest of the 225 cities covered in Illinois.
Month by month in Chicago
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1.48 | 1,176 | |
| Feb | 1.46 | 1,160 | |
| Mar | 1.88 | 1,494 | |
| Apr | 3.57 | 2,837 | 97 |
| May | 4.09 | 3,251 | 32 |
| Jun | 4.01 | 3,187 | 42 |
| Jul | 3.55 | 2,822 | 100 |
| Aug | 3.99 | 3,171 | 45 |
| Sep | 2.77 | 2,202 | 197 |
| Oct | 3.48 | 2,766 | 108 |
| Nov | 2.35 | 1,868 | |
| Dec | 1.79 | 1,423 |
May is the wettest month (4.09 in, 3,251 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (1.46 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 Chicago
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 498 gallons to the garden in a normal year (80.0% 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 Chicago's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 498 | 25,869 |
| 110 gal | 498 | 25,869 |
| 165 gal | 498 | 25,869 |
| 275 gal | 498 | 25,869 |
| 550 gal | 498 | 25,869 |
| 1,000 gal | 498 | 25,869 |
| 1,500 gal | 498 | 25,869 |
| 2,500 gal | 498 | 25,869 |
| 5,000 gal | 498 | 25,869 |
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 Illinois?
Local government can regulate rainwater harvesting per state plumbing law
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