Capturing Rainwater

Fall is finally here! The sun rises a little later and sets a little sooner, the days and nights become cooler. This causes the leaves to change color, and we get to see the brilliance of nature. This is my favorite time of the year for several reasons but most especially it means it’s Football season. The gridiron of gladiators is truly the best sport on the planet. September, October and November tailgates at the stadium are awesome that is, of course, if it isn’t raining.

Paul Krause grew up in Michigan and went to the University of Iowa where he played football and baseball. In 1964 he was drafted in the 2nd round by the Washington Redskins. His first year in the league he led the NFL with 12 interceptions. In 1968 he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. He retired at the end of the 1979 season. Paul played 16 seasons in the NFL and had 4 Superbowl appearances.

Oh yeah, we tend to get a lot of rain in the fall as well. As a Civil Engineer, I always think about where the water goes when it rains. This is very similar to playing football. Think about it this way. I am a quarterback, and I am going to pass the ball to the receiver. The ball is the rain and the receiver in storm drainage design is the catch basin.

Slotted Drain was developed in coordination with the US Bureau of Reclamation, the California department of Transportation and ARMCO Steel and the final research was completed in 1980.

REPORT NO. FHWA-RD-79-106

Vol. 4 Hydraulic Characteristics of Slotted Drain Inlets
February 1980 
FINAL REPORT


Now you are probably thinking to yourself, “What do Paul Krause and Slotted Drain have in common?” Well, Paul had a long career in the NFL, similarly Slotted Drain is still in the game catching rainfall. Paul was so talented that he could play two sports football and baseball similarly Slotted Drain can both catch rainfall as well as convey the water downstream. But the one thing that really stands out is that both Paul Krause and Slotted Drain are #1 in….

He currently holds the all-time interception record in the NFL with 81. While, Slotted Drain also has the all-time interception (capture) record for rainwater!