Hutchinson, MN rainwater: 23,677 gallons off a roof
Rainwater from a roof in Hutchinson, MN
23,677gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Hutchinson, MN's normal 29.8 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Hutchinson, MN 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 Hutchinson 1 N station (1.7 mi away). Hutchinson, MN ranks 85th wettest of the 103 cities covered in Minnesota.
Month by month in Hutchinson
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.59 | 469 | |
| Feb | 0.65 | 517 | |
| Mar | 1.33 | 1,057 | |
| Apr | 2.16 | 1,717 | 273 |
| May | 3.96 | 3,147 | 49 |
| Jun | 4.51 | 3,585 | |
| Jul | 3.90 | 3,100 | 56 |
| Aug | 4.78 | 3,799 | |
| Sep | 3.02 | 2,400 | 166 |
| Oct | 2.53 | 2,011 | 227 |
| Nov | 1.46 | 1,160 | |
| Dec | 0.90 | 715 |
Aug is the wettest month (4.78 in, 3,799 gal off the roof); Jan the driest (0.59 in). Garden shortfall is what a 200 sq ft vegetable bed needs beyond the rain that lands on it, April to October.
What size rain barrel for Hutchinson
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 637 gallons to the garden in a normal year (82.7% 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 Hutchinson's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 637 | 22,185 |
| 110 gal | 637 | 22,185 |
| 165 gal | 637 | 22,185 |
| 275 gal | 637 | 22,185 |
| 550 gal | 637 | 22,185 |
| 1,000 gal | 637 | 22,185 |
| 1,500 gal | 637 | 22,185 |
| 2,500 gal | 637 | 22,185 |
| 5,000 gal | 637 | 22,185 |
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 Minnesota?
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