Columbia City, IN rainwater: 31,053 gallons off a roof
Columbia City, IN: gallons off the roof each year
31,053gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Columbia City, IN's normal 39.1 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Columbia City, 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 Columbia City station (1.4 mi away). Columbia City, IN ranks 84th wettest of the 88 cities covered in Indiana.
Month by month in Columbia City
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.54 | 2,019 | |
| Feb | 1.95 | 1,550 | |
| Mar | 2.62 | 2,082 | |
| Apr | 3.81 | 3,028 | 67 |
| May | 4.34 | 3,449 | 1 |
| Jun | 4.62 | 3,672 | |
| Jul | 3.86 | 3,068 | 61 |
| Aug | 4.07 | 3,235 | 35 |
| Sep | 3.00 | 2,384 | 168 |
| Oct | 2.85 | 2,265 | 187 |
| Nov | 2.98 | 2,369 | |
| Dec | 2.43 | 1,931 |
Jun is the wettest month (4.62 in, 3,672 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (1.95 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 Columbia City
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 413 gallons to the garden in a normal year (79.4% 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 Columbia City's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 413 | 29,485 |
| 110 gal | 413 | 29,485 |
| 165 gal | 413 | 29,485 |
| 275 gal | 413 | 29,485 |
| 550 gal | 413 | 29,485 |
| 1,000 gal | 413 | 29,485 |
| 1,500 gal | 413 | 29,485 |
| 2,500 gal | 413 | 29,485 |
| 5,000 gal | 413 | 29,485 |
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