West Lafayette, IN rainwater: 34,105 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in West Lafayette, IN collects
34,105gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under West Lafayette, IN's normal 42.9 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In West Lafayette, 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 W Lafayette Sew Plt station (2.1 mi away). West Lafayette, IN ranks 41st wettest of the 88 cities covered in Indiana.
Month by month in West Lafayette
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.97 | 2,361 | |
| Feb | 2.10 | 1,669 | |
| Mar | 3.13 | 2,488 | |
| Apr | 3.96 | 3,147 | 49 |
| May | 4.28 | 3,402 | 9 |
| Jun | 4.95 | 3,934 | |
| Jul | 4.84 | 3,847 | |
| Aug | 3.27 | 2,599 | 135 |
| Sep | 3.00 | 2,384 | 168 |
| Oct | 3.11 | 2,472 | 155 |
| Nov | 3.23 | 2,567 | |
| Dec | 4.07 | 3,235 |
Jun is the wettest month (4.95 in, 3,934 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.10 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 West Lafayette
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 417 gallons to the garden in a normal year (81.0% 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 West Lafayette's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 417 | 32,593 |
| 110 gal | 417 | 32,593 |
| 165 gal | 417 | 32,593 |
| 275 gal | 417 | 32,593 |
| 550 gal | 417 | 32,593 |
| 1,000 gal | 417 | 32,593 |
| 1,500 gal | 417 | 32,593 |
| 2,500 gal | 417 | 32,593 |
| 5,000 gal | 417 | 32,593 |
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