Whitestown, IN rainwater: 32,802 gallons off a roof
Whitestown, IN: gallons off the roof each year
32,802gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Whitestown, IN's normal 41.3 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Whitestown, 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 Whitestown station (1.9 mi away). Whitestown, IN ranks 55th wettest of the 88 cities covered in Indiana.
Month by month in Whitestown
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.86 | 2,273 | |
| Feb | 2.47 | 1,963 | |
| Mar | 3.16 | 2,512 | |
| Apr | 4.30 | 3,418 | 6 |
| May | 4.56 | 3,624 | |
| Jun | 4.67 | 3,712 | |
| Jul | 3.83 | 3,044 | 65 |
| Aug | 2.85 | 2,265 | 187 |
| Sep | 3.29 | 2,615 | 132 |
| Oct | 2.97 | 2,361 | 172 |
| Nov | 3.43 | 2,726 | |
| Dec | 2.88 | 2,289 |
Jun is the wettest month (4.67 in, 3,712 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (2.47 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 Whitestown
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 466 gallons to the garden in a normal year (82.9% 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 Whitestown's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 466 | 31,211 |
| 110 gal | 466 | 31,211 |
| 165 gal | 466 | 31,211 |
| 275 gal | 466 | 31,211 |
| 550 gal | 466 | 31,211 |
| 1,000 gal | 466 | 31,211 |
| 1,500 gal | 466 | 31,211 |
| 2,500 gal | 466 | 31,211 |
| 5,000 gal | 466 | 31,211 |
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