Muncie, IN rainwater: 31,999 gallons off a roof
Muncie, IN: gallons off the roof each year
31,999gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Muncie, IN's normal 40.3 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Muncie, 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 Muncie Delaware Co Ap station (2.4 mi away). Muncie, IN ranks 75th wettest of the 88 cities covered in Indiana.
Month by month in Muncie
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.52 | 2,003 | |
| Feb | 2.27 | 1,804 | |
| Mar | 3.08 | 2,448 | |
| Apr | 3.89 | 3,092 | 57 |
| May | 4.36 | 3,465 | |
| Jun | 4.81 | 3,823 | |
| Jul | 4.10 | 3,259 | 31 |
| Aug | 3.38 | 2,686 | 121 |
| Sep | 3.09 | 2,456 | 157 |
| Oct | 2.96 | 2,353 | 173 |
| Nov | 3.23 | 2,567 | |
| Dec | 2.57 | 2,043 |
Jun is the wettest month (4.81 in, 3,823 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.27 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 Muncie
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 435 gallons to the garden in a normal year (80.6% 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 Muncie's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 435 | 30,393 |
| 110 gal | 435 | 30,393 |
| 165 gal | 435 | 30,393 |
| 275 gal | 435 | 30,393 |
| 550 gal | 435 | 30,393 |
| 1,000 gal | 435 | 30,393 |
| 1,500 gal | 435 | 30,393 |
| 2,500 gal | 435 | 30,393 |
| 5,000 gal | 435 | 30,393 |
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