Lowell, IN rainwater: 31,697 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Lowell, IN collects
31,697gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Lowell, IN's normal 39.9 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Lowell, 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 Lowell station (1.8 mi away). Lowell, IN ranks 79th wettest of the 88 cities covered in Indiana.
Month by month in Lowell
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.33 | 1,852 | |
| Feb | 1.91 | 1,518 | |
| Mar | 2.34 | 1,860 | |
| Apr | 3.68 | 2,925 | 84 |
| May | 4.24 | 3,370 | 14 |
| Jun | 5.11 | 4,061 | |
| Jul | 4.31 | 3,426 | 5 |
| Aug | 4.27 | 3,394 | 10 |
| Sep | 3.27 | 2,599 | 135 |
| Oct | 3.56 | 2,830 | 98 |
| Nov | 2.62 | 2,082 | |
| Dec | 2.24 | 1,780 |
Jun is the wettest month (5.11 in, 4,061 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (1.91 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 Lowell
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 270 gallons to the garden in a normal year (78.2% 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 Lowell's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 270 | 30,271 |
| 110 gal | 270 | 30,271 |
| 165 gal | 270 | 30,271 |
| 275 gal | 270 | 30,271 |
| 550 gal | 270 | 30,271 |
| 1,000 gal | 270 | 30,271 |
| 1,500 gal | 270 | 30,271 |
| 2,500 gal | 270 | 30,271 |
| 5,000 gal | 270 | 30,271 |
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