Volume of a 2 Inch Rainfall Over Willett Parking Center

Flooded Parking Lot

What happens when parking lots don't have proper drainage? I'm sure everyone has been in a situation where they had to splash through puddles on their way to their care, but improper drainage can cause more issues than just inconvenient puddles.

A proper drainage system is important because of the amount of water than can accumulate when it rains. When a rainfall is reported as 2 inches, it doesn't sound like very much at all. However, a 2 inch rainfall over a parking lot that measures 242 feet long and 231 feet wide yields a volume of 69,835 gallons of water.

Light Blue Area Highlighting the Willet Parking Center.

The average swimming pool holds only about 10,000 gallons of water. If there isn't a good way to drain this water, it can accumulate and flood the parking lot, causing problems for everyone trying to get to their care or drive somewhere.

My lab report can be found here.