Hyattsville, MD rainwater: 36,235 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Hyattsville, MD collects
36,235gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Hyattsville, MD's normal 45.6 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Hyattsville, MD 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 Natl Arboretum Dc station (3.4 mi away). Hyattsville, MD ranks 13th wettest of the 23 cities covered in Maryland.
Month by month in Hyattsville
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.03 | 2,408 | |
| Feb | 2.77 | 2,202 | |
| Mar | 3.96 | 3,147 | |
| Apr | 3.44 | 2,734 | 113 |
| May | 4.32 | 3,434 | 4 |
| Jun | 4.56 | 3,624 | |
| Jul | 4.62 | 3,672 | |
| Aug | 3.67 | 2,917 | 85 |
| Sep | 4.12 | 3,275 | 29 |
| Oct | 4.23 | 3,362 | 15 |
| Nov | 3.20 | 2,543 | |
| Dec | 3.67 | 2,917 |
Jul is the wettest month (4.62 in, 3,672 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.77 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 Hyattsville
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 191 gallons to the garden in a normal year (77.8% 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 Hyattsville's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 191 | 34,874 |
| 110 gal | 191 | 34,874 |
| 165 gal | 191 | 34,874 |
| 275 gal | 191 | 34,874 |
| 550 gal | 191 | 34,874 |
| 1,000 gal | 191 | 34,874 |
| 1,500 gal | 191 | 34,874 |
| 2,500 gal | 191 | 34,874 |
| 5,000 gal | 191 | 34,874 |
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 Maryland?
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