Waconia, MN rainwater: 26,348 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Waconia, MN collects
26,348gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Waconia, MN's normal 33.2 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Waconia, 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 Victoria 1.6 Wsw station (5.2 mi away). Waconia, MN ranks 38th wettest of the 103 cities covered in Minnesota.
Month by month in Waconia
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.89 | 707 | |
| Feb | 0.92 | 731 | |
| Mar | 1.61 | 1,280 | |
| Apr | 3.05 | 2,424 | 162 |
| May | 4.29 | 3,410 | 7 |
| Jun | 4.60 | 3,656 | |
| Jul | 4.63 | 3,680 | |
| Aug | 4.23 | 3,362 | 15 |
| Sep | 3.31 | 2,631 | 130 |
| Oct | 2.78 | 2,210 | 196 |
| Nov | 1.63 | 1,296 | |
| Dec | 1.21 | 962 |
Jul is the wettest month (4.63 in, 3,680 gal off the roof); Jan the driest (0.89 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 Waconia
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 410 gallons to the garden in a normal year (80.4% 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 Waconia's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 410 | 24,993 |
| 110 gal | 410 | 24,993 |
| 165 gal | 410 | 24,993 |
| 275 gal | 410 | 24,993 |
| 550 gal | 410 | 24,993 |
| 1,000 gal | 410 | 24,993 |
| 1,500 gal | 410 | 24,993 |
| 2,500 gal | 410 | 24,993 |
| 5,000 gal | 410 | 24,993 |
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