Vadnais Heights, MN rainwater: 26,316 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Vadnais Heights, MN collects
26,316gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Vadnais Heights, MN's normal 33.1 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Vadnais Heights, 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 Vadnais Lake station (1.6 mi away). Vadnais Heights, MN ranks 43rd wettest of the 103 cities covered in Minnesota.
Month by month in Vadnais Heights
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.78 | 620 | |
| Feb | 0.81 | 644 | |
| Mar | 1.50 | 1,192 | |
| Apr | 3.12 | 2,480 | 153 |
| May | 4.31 | 3,426 | 5 |
| Jun | 4.52 | 3,593 | |
| Jul | 4.47 | 3,553 | |
| Aug | 4.45 | 3,537 | |
| Sep | 3.13 | 2,488 | 152 |
| Oct | 3.08 | 2,448 | 158 |
| Nov | 1.84 | 1,462 | |
| Dec | 1.10 | 874 |
Jun is the wettest month (4.52 in, 3,593 gal off the roof); Jan the driest (0.78 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 Vadnais Heights
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 386 gallons to the garden in a normal year (82.3% of its need).
Before you buy, a 55-gallon barrel with a downspout diverter is the whole job. Check that the overflow points away from your foundation, because most of Vadnais Heights's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 386 | 25,045 |
| 110 gal | 386 | 25,045 |
| 165 gal | 386 | 25,045 |
| 275 gal | 386 | 25,045 |
| 550 gal | 386 | 25,045 |
| 1,000 gal | 386 | 25,045 |
| 1,500 gal | 386 | 25,045 |
| 2,500 gal | 386 | 25,045 |
| 5,000 gal | 386 | 25,045 |
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