Munster, IN rainwater: 32,039 gallons off a roof
Munster, IN: gallons off the roof each year
32,039gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Munster, IN's normal 40.3 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Munster, 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 Lansing station (1.9 mi away). Munster, IN ranks 73rd wettest of the 88 cities covered in Indiana.
Month by month in Munster
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.21 | 1,757 | |
| Feb | 1.95 | 1,550 | |
| Mar | 2.31 | 1,836 | |
| Apr | 4.05 | 3,219 | 37 |
| May | 4.46 | 3,545 | |
| Jun | 4.77 | 3,791 | |
| Jul | 4.30 | 3,418 | 6 |
| Aug | 4.41 | 3,505 | |
| Sep | 3.49 | 2,774 | 107 |
| Oct | 3.52 | 2,798 | 103 |
| Nov | 2.60 | 2,066 | |
| Dec | 2.24 | 1,780 |
Jun is the wettest month (4.77 in, 3,791 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 Munster
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 198 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 Munster's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 198 | 30,610 |
| 110 gal | 198 | 30,610 |
| 165 gal | 198 | 30,610 |
| 275 gal | 198 | 30,610 |
| 550 gal | 198 | 30,610 |
| 1,000 gal | 198 | 30,610 |
| 1,500 gal | 198 | 30,610 |
| 2,500 gal | 198 | 30,610 |
| 5,000 gal | 198 | 30,610 |
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