RAINFALL

RUNOFF
Relation
 Rainfall & Types of Runoff
• Rainfall
-the primary source of water for runoff generation over land surface
• Surface Runoff
- the portion of rainfall which enters the stream immediately after the rainfall
• Subsurface Runoff
- part of rainfall which first leaches into the soil and moves laterally to the
streams, rivers or sea
• Base Flow
- it is delayed flow, part of rainfall which after falling on the ground surface,
infiltrate into the soil and meets to the water table
Total Runoff = surface runoff + base flow (including subsurface flow)
 Definition

Hydrograph
– is a graph showing discharge versus time
– also refer to a graph showing the volume of water
reaching a particular outfall
– graphs are commonly used in the design of sewerage,
more specifically, the design of surface water
sewerage systems
and combined sewers
Components of H y d r o g r a p h
A-C Rising limb - Generally
reflects storm characteristic.

B-D Crest segment - Highest

concentration of runoff.

C-E Recession limb -

Withdrawal of stored water.

A-E Base time of hydrograph

- Duration of runoff.
 Components of H y d r o g r a p h
Rising limb
-the rising limb of hydrograph, also known as concentration
curve, reflects a prolonged increase in discharge from a
catchment area, typically in response to a rainfall event
Recession (or falling)
-the recession limb extends from the peak flow rate onward. The
end of stormflow and the return to groundwater-derived flow is
often taken as
the point of inflection of the recession limb
- Represents the withdrawal of water from a storage built up in
the basin during the earlier phases of the hydrograph
Peak discharge
- The highest point on the hydrograph when the
rate of discharge is greatest
Lag time
- the time interval from the center of mass of rainfall
excess
to the peak of the resulting hydrograph
Time to peak
- time interval from the start of the resulting hydrograph
Discharge
- the rate of flow passing a specific location in river or
other
channel
H Y D R O G R A P H with multiple peaks
-In actual stream gauged, the hydrograph may have a
single peak or multiple peaks according to the
complexity
of storms.
-For flood analysis and derivation of unit hydrograph, a
single peaked hydrograph is preferred.
-Complex hydrograph can be resolved into simple
hydrographs by drawing hypothetical recession lines as
shown in Fig. 5.2.
 Hydrograph
A runoff hydrograph
describes the response of a
watershed to a storm.
Engineers use this
information when designing
systems to handle both the
peak flow and total volume of
stormwater that might
otherwise cause flooding.
 Hydrograph
A streamflow hydrograph (also
called a discharge hydrograph)
describes flows in a river or stream
over months or years. Streamflow
hydrographs are used in water
resources planning, hydropower
evaluation, flood forecasting,
environmental monitoring, and
ecosystem assessment.
 Hydrograph

Wastewater hydrographs
are important for proper
design, planning, and
operation of wastewater
collection systems and
treatment facilities.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE SHAPE
OF HYDROGRAPH:

• Climatic Factor
• Physiological Factor
Climatic Factors
o Precipitation
- Rainfall and snowfall – rainfall tends to produce runoff rapidly
generating hydrograph with high peak.
o Rainfall Intensity
- Affect volume of runoff, occurrence of peak flow, duration of
surface flow
- Higher the intensity quicker the peak flow and conical hydrograph
o Duration of Rainfall
- Longer the duration more the volume
- Longer duration, peak flow occur after longer time and
hydrograph is flatter with broad base
Climatic Factors
o Distribution of Rainfall
- When heavy rain occur near outlet
- Peak flow occur quickly
- When heavy rain occur in upper areas
- Peak flow occur after few hours
- Lower peak and broad base (more time taken for flow to reach outlet)
Climatic Factors
◦ Direction of Storm Movement
- Affects amount of peak flow and surface flow duration
- Upward direction – lower peak and broad base
- Downward direction – sharp peak and narrow base
Physiological Factors
 Shape of Basin
- Affects the shape of hydrograph affecting time of concentration
- Broad shaped – peak flow occur soon because of less time of
concentration, narrow hydrograph with high peak
- Fan-shaped – peak flow occur at longer time interval because of
longer time of concentration, broad base lower peak hydrograph
Physiological Factors
 Size of Basin
- Small basin – flow dominated by overland flow that
joins channel quickly, peak flow occur quickly
Physiological Factors
 Stream Slope
- More the stream slope higher the slope of recession limb,
reduce base width of hydrograph
- Small slope make recession limb flatter, base width wider
Physiological Factors
 Drainage Density
- Higher the drainage density, quicker the peak flow, recession
limb is steeper with narrow hydrograph
- Lesser the drainage density, slow moving rising limb and wide
base width
Physiological Factors
 Land use
- Vegetation increases loss of water
- Higher the vegetation density, lesser the peak flow
- Impermeable surfaces created by urbanization
will reduce infiltration and encourage overland flow.
Physiological Factors
 Surface Depression
- Presence of ponds, rills, etc. delay and modify flow
pattern
- Decreases peak flow and wide base width
 HYDROGRAPH

The rainfall data should be obtained from well distributed rain gauging stations
equipped with self recording rain gauges which give areal and time
distribution of rainfall. Also continuous stage hydrograph or discharge
hydrograph data from water level recorder which gives complete shape of
hydrograph at the outlet of the drainage basin is required.
The collected rainfall data is analyzed to obtain hyetograph of effective rainfall
of specific or unit duration. Similarly corresponding direct runoff hydrograph
is obtained from the total discharge hydrograph. These two things form the
two basic requisites in derivation of unit hydrograph.
STEPS IN CONSTRUCTING HYDROGRAPH

1. Make a hyetograph
2. Compute for the effective rainfall or excess rainfall
3. Solve for the Direct Runoff Ordinates
Direct runoff ordinate = Total runoff ordinate – Base flow ordinate
Unit hydrograph ordinate = Direct runoff ordinate/Direct runoff expressed in cm
4. Get the volume of direct runoff
Volume of direct runoff = Area within the hydrograph = ∑ Ordinates x t = ∑0 x t
where ∑ Ordinates = Sum of the ordinates of direct runoff hydrograph at equal time
interval
t = Time interval between successive ordinates
STEPS IN CONSTRUCTING HYDROGRAPH

5. Solve for the depth of direct runoff in cm

Depth of direct runoff = [Volume of direct run off/ Area of basin in m2]
Depth of direct runoff =Depth of effective rainfall
6. Measure the ordinates of direct runoff hydrograph.
7. Divide these ordinates of direct runoff hydrograph by the obtained
depth of runoff in cm to get ordinate of unit hydrograph.
Mathematically,
Ordinate of unit hydrograph = Ordinate of direct runoff
hydrograph/Depth of direct runoff in cm
Problem:
On a drainage basin of 400 km2 size 8 hours storm was selected for
construction of unit hydrograph.
The rainfall increments observed from the average mass curve of
the storm rainfall are as given in Table ‘A’ below:

Date July 9

Time (hours) 8:00 to 10:00 10:00 to 12:00 12:00 to 14:00 14:00 to 16:00

Rainfall 1.07 3.90 3.74 1.09

increment (cm)

Assume average loss rate of 1 cm/hr for calculating effective rainfall. The ordinates of
the observed hydrograph and base flow are as given in Table B. Construct unit
hydrograph for the basin from the above data and determine specific or unit duration of
the unit hydrograph.
Solution:
Step 1:
Using rainfall data hyetograph can be constructed as shown in Fig. 4.8. The
horizontal line (ф line) can be drawn at 2 cm ordinate. The area above the line
gives effective rainfall. It may be also seen that the duration of effective rainfall
is 4 hours which is equal to specific or unit duration of the hydrograph.
Step 2:
The amount of effective rainfall can be calculated as shown in Table 4.5.
The total effective rainfall works out to be 3.64 cm.
Step 3:
The ordinates of the direct runoff hydrograph and 4 hour unit hydrograph can be
calculated as shown in Table 4.6. It may be noted that
Direct runoff ordinate = Total runoff ordinate – Base flow ordinate, and
Unit hydrograph ordinate = Direct runoff ordinate/Direct runoff expressed in cm
Step 4:
Volume of direct runoff = ∑0 x t = 1011 x 4 x 60 x 60 = 4044 x 3600 m3

Step 5 :
Depth of direct runoff in cm = [(4044 X 3600) / Area of basin in m2] X 100
= (4044 X 3600X100) / (400 X 1000 X 1000) = 3.64 cm

From step 2 and step 5

Depth of direct runoff =Depth of effective rainfall = 3.64 cm
Hence, stepwise calculations are correct.

Step 6:
Volume of runoff from unit hydrograph = ∑ 0 x t = 277.8 x 4 x 60 x 60 m3
Depth of runoff from unit hydrograph in cm = 277.8 x 4 x 60 x 60/400 x
1000×1000 = 0.01 m or 1 cm
(This is as per definition of unit hydrograph)
Step 7:
Now using the values in columns (3) and (7) ordinates of unit hydrograph
can be plotted against time as abscissa to construct unit hydrograph as
shown in Fig. 4.9.
HYDROGRAPH
SEPARATION
 What is Hydrograph Separation?

Hydrograph Separation or Hydrograph

analysis is the division of a hydrograph into
direct and
groundwater runoff as a basis for
subsequent analysis.
 Why do we separate hydrographs?
-Baseflow would exist in the stream without the contribution of
direct runoff from the rainfall. Therefore, timing, magnitude,
and duration of groundwater return flow differs from that of
direct runoff.
-Estimation of baseflow and direct runoff is useful to
understand the hydrology of a watershed, including
interaction of surface
and sub-surface water, role of urbanization on runoff
generation and the health of aquatic habitat within the stream.
Since there is no ready basis for
distinguishing between direct and
groundwater flow in a stream at
any instant, the method of
separation is equally arbitrary.
Methods Used in Hydrograph Separation
 1. Straight Line Method or Constant Discharge
Method

Assumes baseflow is constant

regardless of stream height
(discharge). Draw a horizontal line
segment from beginning of runoff
to intersection with recession curve.
Where:
Qdr = direct runoff discharge
Qb = baseflow discharge
Qt = total runoff discharge
Qs = discharge at the starting
time
ts = starting time
te = end time
Example 1
2. Constant Slope Method
t < ts Qb=Q
ts ≤ t ≤ te Qb= Qs + (Qe-Qs)(t-ts)
te-ts
t > te Qb=Q

Qe

Qs

ts te
Example 1:
Catchment area of 602 m2.

t (hr) Qt(m3 /s)

-6 6
0 5
6 13
12 26
18 21
24 16
30 12
36 9
42 7
48 5
54 5
60 4.5
66 4.5
 Qe

Qs

ts
te
 N= 0.83A0.2
N= 0.83(0.602)0.2
N= 0.75d

(0.75d) ( ) = 18h

The baseflow starts of 0th h and end at

point (12+18)h= 30h
Qs = 5
Qe = 12 te = tp + N
ts = 0 (tp = peak
te = 30 time)
t (hr) Qt (m3 /s) Qb (m3 /s) Qdr (m3 /s)
-6 6 6 0
0 5 5 0
6 13 6.4 6.6
12 26 7.8 18.2
18 21 9.2 11.8
24 16 10.6 5.4
30 12 12 0
36 9 9 0
42 7 7 0
48 5 5 0
54 5 5 0
60 4.5 4.5 0
66 4.5 4.5 0
 3. Concave Method

• Assume baseflow decreases while

streamflow increases (i.e. to peak of
storm hydrograph)
• Draw line segment (A –B) from
baseflow recession to a point
directly below the hydrograph peak
• Draw line segment (B-C)
connecting a point N time periods
after the peak where N = time in
days, A= Discharge area in km2,
b= coefficient, taken as 0.827
Where:
qb = baseflow discharge ts = starting
qs = stream flow discharge time
qo = initial discharge tp = peak time
qm = discharge at tp tr = te
qr = discharge at tr to = initial time
EXAMPLE 1
The three different methods that we use for
separating baseflow:

• Constant discharge method– assumes that the

baseflow does not change with rainfall
• Constant slope method– assumes that the
baseflow increases with the rainfall
• Concave method– assumes that the baseflow
continues to decrease initially and then increases
are it reaches the peak flow
 UNIT
HYDROGRAPH
 UNIT HYDROGRAPH
First proposed by Sherman (1932), the unit
hydrograph (originally named unit-graph) of a
watershed is defined as a direct runoff hydrograph
(DRH)
resulting from 1 in (usually taken as 1 cm in SI
units) of excess rainfall generated uniformly over
the
ainage area at a constant rate for an effective
duration.
Sherman classified runoff into surface runoff
and groundwater runoff and defined the unit
hydrograph for use only with surface runoff.

The unit volume is usually considered to be

associated with 1 cm (1 inch) of effective rainfall
distributed uniformly over the basin area.
The following basic assumptions are inherent in this
model:
• Rainfall excess of equal duration are assumed to produce
hydrographs with equivalent time bases regardless of the
intensity of the rain
• Direct runoff ordinates for a storm of given duration are
assumed directly proportional to rainfall excess volumes.
• The time distribution of direct runoff is assumed
independent of antecedent precipitation
• Rainfall distribution is assumed to be the same for all
storms of equal duration, both spatially and temporally
Rules to be observed in developing UH from gaged
watersheds
• Storms should be selected with a simple structure with relatively
uniform
spatial and temporal distributions
• Watershed sizes should generally fall between 1.0 and 100 mi2 in
modern watershed analysis
• Direct runoff should range 0.5 to 2 in.
• Duration of rainfall excess D should be approximately 25% to 30% of
lag time tp
• A number of storms of similar duration should be analyzed to obtain
an average UH for that duration
• Step 5 should be repeated for several rainfall of different durations
 Derivation of Unit Hydrographs
-Analyze the hydrograph and separate base flow
-Measure the total volume of DRO under the hydrograph and
convert time to inches (mm) over the watershed
-Convert total rainfall to rainfall excess through infiltration methods,
such that rainfall excess = DRO, and evaluate duration D of the
rainfall excess that produced the DRO hydrograph
-Divide the ordinates of the DRO hydrograph by the volume in
inches (mm) and plot these results as the UH for the basin. Time
base Tb is assumed constant for storms of equal duration and thus
it will not change
-Check the volume of the UH to make sure it is 1.0 in.(1.0mm), and
graphically adjust ordinates as required
The steps given above for the derivation of unit hydrograph
can be
formulated as follows:
Pnet = P – Losses where P = total rainfall
Pnet = net precipitation (from
OR hyetograph) or direct runoff as equivalent
depth
Pnet =ΣQd t/A , over the basin.
Losses = due to infiltration (Fp), etc.
A = area of the drainage basin
Qd = DRO Qd, DRO = direct runoff ordinate
TRO = total runoff ordinate
DRO= TRO-BFO t = time interval between successive
direct runoff ordinates
DRO/Pnet = UGO BFO = base flow ordinate
 EXAMPLE P ROBLEM
Obtain a Unit Hydrograph for a basin of 315 km2 of area using the
rainfall and stream flow data tabulated below.
From observation of the hydrograph data, the stream flow at the start of the
rising limb of the hydrograph is 100 m3/s.
Compute the volume of direct runoff.
VDRH = (200+600+900+700+500+300+200+100) m3/s (3600) s
= 12'600,000 m3

Express VDRH in equivalent units of depth:

VDRH in equivalent units of depth = VDRH/Abasin

= 12'600,000 m3/(315000000 m2) = 0.04 m = 4 cm
Obtain a Unit Hydrograph by normalizing the DRH. Normalizing implies dividing
the ordinates of the DRH by the VDRH in equivalent units of depth
Determine the duration D of the ERH associated with
the UH obtained in 4. In order to do this:
Determine the volume of losses, VLosses which is equal to the
difference between the volume of gross rainfall, VGRH, and the volume
of the direct runoff hydrograph, VDRH .

VLosses = VGRH - VDRH = (0.5 + 2.5 + 2.5 +0.5) cm/h 1 h - 4 cm = 2cm

Compute the f-index equal to the ratio of the volume of losses to the
rainfall duration, tr. Thus,

ø-index = VLosses/tr = 2 cm / 4 h = 0.5 cm/h

Determine the ERH by subtracting the infiltration (e.g., ø-
index) from the GRH

As observed in the table, the duration of the effective rainfall

hyetograph is 2 hours. Thus, D = 2 hours, and the Unit
Hydrograph obtained above is a 2-hour Unit Hydrograph.
 UNIT HYDROGRAPH
FROM COMPLEX STORMS
 COMPLEX STORMS

Unit hydrographs from complex storms, involving

varying intensities of rain can be obtained
by considering the complex storm as successive
unit storms of different intensities and the
runoff hydrograph (due to complex storm) as the
result of superposition of the successive
storm hydrographs.
The ordinates of each storm hydrograph are obtained as ‘the storm
intensity
times the corresponding ordinate of the unit hydrograph’ as shown in
Fig. 5.14. The unit
hydrograph ordinates u1, u2, ... are thus obtained by writing a series
of equations for each of
the ordinates Q1, Q2, .... of the runoff hydrograph (due to complex
storm) and successively
solving them.
In Fig. 5.14,
Q1 = xu1 ∴ u1 = ?
Q2 = xu2 + yu1 ∴ u2 = ?
Q3 = xu3 + yu2 + zu1 ∴ u3 = ?
and so on. Thus, the tr–hour unit graph ordinates can be
determined. Although the method is
straight forward, errors will creep in due to the assumptions on the
intensity and duration of
rainfall and deduction of an assumed base flow; many trials are
required to get a reasonable
unit graph.
 SOLUTION

0-6 hr: x = 2.9 – 0.15 × 6 = 2 cm

6-12 hr: y = 4.9 – 0.15 × 6 = 4 cm
12-18 hr: z = 3.9 – 0.15 × 6 = 3 cm
Σu t/A= 1 cm, in consistent units
Σu = sum of the UGO’s = 110 cumec
∴
(110) (3) (60) (60) / (118.8) (10^6) = 0.01 m, or 1 cm
Hence, the UGO’s derived are correct.
ESTIMATION
OF
DISCHARGE
 FLOOD
ROUTING
 FLOOD ROUTING
is the technique of determining the flood
hydrograph at a section of a river by utilizing the
data of flood flow at one or more upstream
sections. The hydrologic
analysis of problems such as flood forecasting,
flood
protection, reservoir design and spillway design
invariably include flood routing.
TYPES OF FLOOD ROUTING

Lumped/hydrologic
Flow- f(time)
Continuity equation and Flow/Storage
relationship
Distributed/hydraulic
Flow - f(space, time)
Continuity and Momentum equations
H
Y R
D O
R U
O T
L I
O N
G G
I
C
 TYPES OF HYDROLOGIC ROUTING

1. Level pool method (Modified Puls)

• Storage is nonlinear function of Q
2. Muskingum method
• Storage is linear function of I and Q
 Level Pool Routing
Procedure for calculating outflow
hydrograph Q(t) from a reservoir with
horizontal water surface, given its
inflow hydrograph I(t) and storage-
outflow relationship
 LEVEL POOL METHODOLOGY

Discharge Inflow

Outflo
w

Time
Stora
ge
Unknow Know
n n
Need a function
relating

Storage-outflow
Time function
 Level pool methodology
Given
– Inflow hydrograph
– Q and H relationship
Steps
1. Develop Q versus Q+ 2S/Δt relationship using Q/H
relationship
1. Compute Q+ 2S/Δt using
2. Use the relationship developed in step 1 to get Q
 Ex. 8.2.1
Given I(t) Given Q/H

Area of the reservoir = 1 acre, and outlet diameter = 5ft

 Ex. 8.2.1 Step 1
Develop Q versus Q+ 2S/Δt relationship using Q/H relationship
 Step 2

Compute Q+ 2S/Δt using

At time interval =1 (j=1), I1 = 0, and therefore Q1 = 0 as the reservoir is empty

Write the continuity equation for the first time step, which can be used to compute
Q2
 Step 3
Use the relationship between 2S/Dt + Q versus Q to
compute Q

Use the Table/graph created in Step 1 to

compute Q
What is the value of Q if 2S/Dt + Q = 60 ?

So Q2 is 2.4 cfs
Repeat steps 2 and 3 for j=2, 3, 4… to
compute Q3, Q4, Q5…..
Ex. 8.2.1 results
 Ex. 8.2.1 results

Outflow
hydrograph

Inflow

Peak outflow intersects with the

receding limb of the inflow Outflo
hydrograph w
Q/H relationships

Program for Routing Flow

through an NRCS
Reservoir
http://www.wsi.nrcs.usda.gov/pro
ducts/W2Q/H&H/Tools_Models/S
ites.html
 Hydrologic River Routing (Muskingum
Method)
• The Muskingum Routing unit models the flow of
water in natural and man-made open channels
using the Muskingum method to route the flow.
• The Muskingum Routing calculates the
discharge
within a river or channel reach given the inflow
hydrograph at the upstream end.
 Hydrologic river routing (Muskingum Method)
Wedge storage in reach
Advanci
ng
Flood
Wave
I>Q
K = travel time of peak through the reach
X = weight on inflow versus outflow (0 ≤ X
≤ 0.5)
X = 0 ➔ Reservoir, storage depends on
outflow, no wedge
X = 0.0 - 0.3 ➔ Natural stream Recedin
g
Flood
Wave
Q>I
 Muskingum Method (Cont.)

Recall:

Combine:

If I(t), K and X are known, Q(t) can be calculated using above equations
Least Square Procedure

K=A+B
x = A / (A + B)
 Muskingum - Example
Given:
– Inflow hydrograph
– K = 2.3 hr, X = 0.15, Dt = 1 hour, Initial
Q = 85 cfs
Find:
– Outflow hydrograph using Muskingum
routing method
 Muskingum – Example (Cont.)

C1 = 0.0631, C2 = 0.3442, C3 =
0.5927
RATIONAL
FORMULA
 RATIONAL METHOD

-One of the indirect method of flood and runoff estimation

-For hydraulic designs on very small watersheds, a
complete hydrograph of runoff is not always required The
maximum, or peak, of the hydrograph is sufficient for
design of the structure in question. Therefore, a number of
methods for estimating a
design discharge, the maximum value of the flood runoff
hydrograph have been developed
 RATIONAL METHOD

▪ This method is a simple technique for estimating a design

discharge from a small watershed.
▪ It was developed by Kuichling (1889) for small drainage basins
in urban areas.
▪ Application of this method is based on a simple formula that
relates runoff producing potential watershed, the average
intensity of rainfall for a particular length of time (the time of
concentration), and the watershed drainage area.
RATIONAL METHOD

•
Rational Method Runoff Coefficients

▪ One of the parameters in the Rational Method equation

( Q = CiA ) is the runoff coefficient, C.
▪ The major factors affecting the rational method runoff
coefficient value for a watershed are the land use, the soil
type and the slope of the watershed. The physical
interpretation of the runoff coefficient for a watershed is the
fraction of rainfall on that watershed that becomes storm
water runoff. Thus the runoff coefficient must have a value
between zero and one.
Rational Method Runoff Coefficients

•
 Factors Affecting Watershed Runoff
Coefficients
▪ Land Use: Surfaces that are relatively impervious like
streets and parking lots have runoff coefficients approaching
one. Surfaces with vegetation to intercept surface runoff and
those that allow infiltration of rainfall have lower runoff
coefficients.

▪ Slope: All other things being equal, a watershed with a

greater slope will have more storm water runoff and thus a
higher runoff coefficient than a watershed with a lower slope.
 Factors Affecting Watershed Runoff
Coefficients
Soil Type: Soils that have a high clay content don’t allow very
much infiltration and thus have relatively high runoff coefficients,
while soils with high sand content have higher infiltration rates
and low runoff coefficients. The U.S. Soil Conservation Service
(SCS) has four soil group identifications that provide information
helpful in determining watershed runoff coefficients. The four soil
groups are identified as A, B, C, and D. Classification of a given
soil into one of these SCS groups can be on the basis of a
description of the soil characteristics or on the basis of a
measured minimum infiltration rate for the soil.Some information
on typical ranges for C values is given in the tables.
RUNOFF COEFFICIENTS
 Descriptions of the four SCS soil groups are as
follows:
• Group A - Deep sand; deep loess;
N aggregated soils
O • Group B - Shallow loess; sandy loam
T • Group C - Clay loams; shallow sandy loam;
soils low in organic content; soils usually high in
E clay
• Group D - Soils that swell significantly when
wet; heavy plastic clays; certain saline soils
RUNOFF COEFFICIENTS
 Assumptions of Rational Method:

▪ Watershed area is limited to 200 acres or less

▪ The frequency of peak discharge is the same
as the frequency of rainfall intensity.
Time of Concentration
 Time of Concentration
▪ The rainfall intensity (i) in millimeters per hour or inches
per hour for duration corresponding to the time of
concentration for the catchment area and having a
recurrence period appropriate to the site conditions, is read
from IDF curves (plotbetween intensity and duration).
▪ Time of concentration is defined as the interval time in
minutes from the beginning of rainfall to the time when
water from the most remote position of the catchment
reaches the outlet.
▪ Rainfall intensity = Time of concentration
 Example Calculation
Determine the peak of runoff rate from a 10-acre parking lot near
Columbia, SC. The design rainfall return period is 25 years. Time of
concentration is 6 minutes. The runoff coefficient is 0.90 and the design
storm intensity is 8.2 in/hr.
Solution:
Q = CiA
= (0.90)(8.2)(10)
= 73.8 cfs
 Example Calculation
Consider a section of a downtown business area of 35,400 square feet
that drains to a particular storm water inlet. The runoff coefficient for
this drainage area has been estimated to be 0.85. Based on a
specified design return period and the time of concentration of the
drainage area, the design storm intensity has been determined to be
5.1 in/hr. What is the peak runoff rate from this area to be used for
design of the storm water inlet?
Solution:
Q = CiA
= (0.85)(5.1)(35,400/43560)
= 3.52 cfs
 SCS
CURVE
-Use to determine the approximate amount
of runoff from a rainfall
-Soil Conservation Service
-Also known as the Curve Number Method
How to calculate surface runoff from SCS
Curve method?
1. Find the curve number value for the region.
Curve number depends on land use and land
cover and soil type found in the region
concerned.
2. Using the standard table for getting the value of
curve number, calculate the Soil moisture
retention, S.
3. Calculate the Q, runoff.
Notes
(1) Hydraulic condition is based on
combination factors that affect
infiltration and runoff, including (a)
density and canopy of vegetative
areas, (b) amount of year-round
cover, (c) amount of grass or close-
seeded legumes, (d) percent of
residue on the land surface
(good>=20%), and (e) degree of
surface roughness.
(2) Good: Woods are protected form
grazing, and litter and brush
adequately cover the soil.
(3) Good: >75% ground cover and
lightly or only occasionally grazed.
(4) CN's shown sre equivalent to
those of pasture. Composite CN's
may be computed for other
combinations of open space cover
type.
Group A- Deep sand, deep loess,
aggregated silts
Group B- Shallow loess, sandy loam
Group C- Clay loams, shallow sandy loam,
soils low in organic content, and soils
usually high in clay
Group D- Soils that swell significantly
when wet, heavy plastic clays, and certain
saline soils
Estimation of CN Parameter for Small
Agricultural Watersheds
Characteristics of the rainfall-runoff events for all
watersheds.
 The relationship between runoff Q and rainfall P depth and
calculated runoff values for the empirical CN (CNemp) for three
antecedent moisture conditions in the investigated watersheds.