Oxford, OH rainwater: 34,669 gallons off a roof
Rainwater from a roof in Oxford, OH
34,669gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Oxford, OH's normal 43.6 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Oxford, OH 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 Oxford station (1.4 mi away). Oxford, OH ranks 36th wettest of the 176 cities covered in Ohio.
Month by month in Oxford
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.37 | 2,678 | |
| Feb | 2.68 | 2,130 | |
| Mar | 3.70 | 2,941 | |
| Apr | 4.44 | 3,529 | |
| May | 5.42 | 4,308 | |
| Jun | 4.15 | 3,298 | 25 |
| Jul | 4.01 | 3,187 | 42 |
| Aug | 3.03 | 2,408 | 165 |
| Sep | 3.19 | 2,535 | 145 |
| Oct | 3.15 | 2,504 | 150 |
| Nov | 3.16 | 2,512 | |
| Dec | 3.32 | 2,639 |
May is the wettest month (5.42 in, 4,308 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.68 in). Garden shortfall is what a 200 sq ft vegetable bed needs beyond the rain that lands on it, April to October.
What size rain barrel for Oxford
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 430 gallons to the garden in a normal year (81.7% of its need).
If you buy one, a 55-gallon barrel with a downspout diverter is the whole job. Check that the overflow points away from your foundation, because most of Oxford's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 430 | 32,995 |
| 110 gal | 430 | 32,995 |
| 165 gal | 430 | 32,995 |
| 275 gal | 430 | 32,995 |
| 550 gal | 430 | 32,995 |
| 1,000 gal | 430 | 32,995 |
| 1,500 gal | 430 | 32,995 |
| 2,500 gal | 430 | 32,995 |
| 5,000 gal | 430 | 32,995 |
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 Ohio?
Legal. Ohio regulates rainwater cisterns used as a drinking-water source as private water systems (OAC chapter 3701-28): local health department permit, continuous disinfection and filtration. No state rule restricting non-potable collection or storage size.
Checked against the current source on 2026-11-06. Source