Plainfield, IN rainwater: 36,688 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Plainfield, IN collects
36,688gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Plainfield, IN's normal 46.2 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Plainfield, 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 Plainfield 1.1 W station (1.9 mi away). Plainfield, IN ranks 20th wettest of the 88 cities covered in Indiana.
Month by month in Plainfield
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.29 | 2,615 | |
| Feb | 2.65 | 2,106 | |
| Mar | 3.63 | 2,885 | |
| Apr | 4.74 | 3,767 | |
| May | 4.81 | 3,823 | |
| Jun | 5.48 | 4,356 | |
| Jul | 5.01 | 3,982 | |
| Aug | 3.31 | 2,631 | 130 |
| Sep | 3.53 | 2,806 | 102 |
| Oct | 3.32 | 2,639 | 128 |
| Nov | 3.45 | 2,742 | |
| Dec | 2.94 | 2,337 |
Jun is the wettest month (5.48 in, 4,356 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.65 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 Plainfield
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 289 gallons to the garden in a normal year (80.2% 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 Plainfield's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 289 | 35,154 |
| 110 gal | 289 | 35,154 |
| 165 gal | 289 | 35,154 |
| 275 gal | 289 | 35,154 |
| 550 gal | 289 | 35,154 |
| 1,000 gal | 289 | 35,154 |
| 1,500 gal | 289 | 35,154 |
| 2,500 gal | 289 | 35,154 |
| 5,000 gal | 289 | 35,154 |
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