Peru, IN rainwater: 32,651 gallons off a roof
Rainwater from a roof in Peru, IN
32,651gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Peru, IN's normal 41.1 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Peru, 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 Peru station (0.5 mi away). Peru, IN ranks 57th wettest of the 88 cities covered in Indiana.
Month by month in Peru
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.55 | 2,027 | |
| Feb | 2.25 | 1,788 | |
| Mar | 2.92 | 2,321 | |
| Apr | 3.92 | 3,116 | 54 |
| May | 4.37 | 3,473 | |
| Jun | 4.99 | 3,966 | |
| Jul | 4.24 | 3,370 | 14 |
| Aug | 4.15 | 3,298 | 25 |
| Sep | 3.32 | 2,639 | 128 |
| Oct | 2.83 | 2,249 | 190 |
| Nov | 3.26 | 2,591 | |
| Dec | 2.28 | 1,812 |
Jun is the wettest month (4.99 in, 3,966 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.25 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 Peru
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 326 gallons to the garden in a normal year (79.5% 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 Peru's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 326 | 31,140 |
| 110 gal | 326 | 31,140 |
| 165 gal | 326 | 31,140 |
| 275 gal | 326 | 31,140 |
| 550 gal | 326 | 31,140 |
| 1,000 gal | 326 | 31,140 |
| 1,500 gal | 326 | 31,140 |
| 2,500 gal | 326 | 31,140 |
| 5,000 gal | 326 | 31,140 |
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