Every time there is a big rain event, I realize more and more how important it is to have a drainage system that works properly, especially after this week’s record rainfall in West Dade. Coming from a third world country, from a city where even today all the rain either evaporates or goes to the ocean, growing up seeing the streets flooded or not being able to go anywhere because it was raining, this was the norm. This is just the way it is when you live in a town with a population of 400,000 and where everything is essentially 10 minutes away. But after first moving to a large city with over 6,000,000 people and now living in Miami-Dade County, I realize that we don’t have that luxury. Being able to have our roads dry and drivable is a must.
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| NW 116th Way After a Rain Event |
Our biggest satisfaction as engineers is knowing that what we design makes our everyday life better. In many ways, we are the creators of those things that you don’t notice when you have it, yet when it’s missing that’s when you realize how valuable they are. That is the case of a good, working drainage system. Think about how many times you pay attention to catch basins or think about where stormwater is going. Not much if you are like most people! However, just turn on the TV after a big rain event and sure enough, the headlines are all about which areas are flooded, where cars got stuck, and how many businesses and homes were affected.
We feel a sense of satisfaction when we see work completed that we helped to make “dry and drivable”!
For more information visit us at:
http://www.westhorp.com/v-10347-Stormwater-Management
It would also be recommended to give these drainages some maintenance every now and then, since dirt and some debris might find their way into them and cause clogs. We never know when a storm might hit, so it is important that we keep an eye on their condition. Also, try to support or donate to storm water management since these services benefit you and the environment.
ReplyDeleteMonica Barnes