Richmond, IN rainwater: 34,065 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Richmond, IN collects
34,065gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Richmond, IN's normal 42.9 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Richmond, 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 Richmond Wtr Wks station (1.7 mi away). Richmond, IN ranks 42nd wettest of the 88 cities covered in Indiana.
Month by month in Richmond
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.20 | 2,543 | |
| Feb | 2.25 | 1,788 | |
| Mar | 3.42 | 2,718 | |
| Apr | 4.27 | 3,394 | 10 |
| May | 4.63 | 3,680 | |
| Jun | 4.80 | 3,815 | |
| Jul | 4.32 | 3,434 | 4 |
| Aug | 3.27 | 2,599 | 135 |
| Sep | 3.12 | 2,480 | 153 |
| Oct | 3.16 | 2,512 | 148 |
| Nov | 3.32 | 2,639 | |
| Dec | 3.10 | 2,464 |
Jun is the wettest month (4.80 in, 3,815 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.
Which tank size is worth it in Richmond
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 366 gallons to the garden in a normal year (81.3% 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 Richmond's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 366 | 32,469 |
| 110 gal | 366 | 32,469 |
| 165 gal | 366 | 32,469 |
| 275 gal | 366 | 32,469 |
| 550 gal | 366 | 32,469 |
| 1,000 gal | 366 | 32,469 |
| 1,500 gal | 366 | 32,469 |
| 2,500 gal | 366 | 32,469 |
| 5,000 gal | 366 | 32,469 |
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