North Branch, MN rainwater: 27,945 gallons off a roof
North Branch, MN: gallons off the roof each year
27,945gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under North Branch, MN's normal 35.2 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In North Branch, 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 Stacy 1.4 Nw station (8.5 mi away). North Branch, MN ranks 8th wettest of the 103 cities covered in Minnesota.
Month by month in North Branch
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.85 | 676 | |
| Feb | 1.25 | 994 | |
| Mar | 1.75 | 1,391 | |
| Apr | 3.17 | 2,520 | 147 |
| May | 4.25 | 3,378 | 12 |
| Jun | 5.27 | 4,189 | |
| Jul | 4.62 | 3,672 | |
| Aug | 4.39 | 3,489 | |
| Sep | 3.29 | 2,615 | 132 |
| Oct | 3.15 | 2,504 | 150 |
| Nov | 1.89 | 1,502 | |
| Dec | 1.28 | 1,017 |
Jun is the wettest month (5.27 in, 4,189 gal off the roof); Jan the driest (0.85 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 North Branch
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 349 gallons to the garden in a normal year (79.1% of its need).
If you set one up, a 55-gallon barrel with a downspout diverter is the whole job. Check that the overflow points away from your foundation, because most of North Branch's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 349 | 26,607 |
| 110 gal | 349 | 26,607 |
| 165 gal | 349 | 26,607 |
| 275 gal | 349 | 26,607 |
| 550 gal | 349 | 26,607 |
| 1,000 gal | 349 | 26,607 |
| 1,500 gal | 349 | 26,607 |
| 2,500 gal | 349 | 26,607 |
| 5,000 gal | 349 | 26,607 |
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