Stream 

Gauging Discharge Estimation
• In this method, the vertical in which the velocity
measurements are made (by one‐point or two‐points
method) is taken as the middle of the strip, and the
water depth (d) in the vertical (determined by sounding)
is taken as the mean depth of the strip.

• If b is the width of strip (usually same for all strips) then

the discharge in the elemental strip is given by
• In this method, the discharge in the two‐
triangular bits near the ends are not included
in the discharge computation.
– Keep the current meter clean and properly oiled
to reduce the friction losses.

– The stream cross‐section should be sub‐divided

into as small sub‐sectors as possible and should
not be greater than 1/15 to 1/20 of the width of
the river.

– Difference of the velocities in adjacent segments

should not be more than 20%
• The following data were collected for a stream at a gauging station.
Compute the discharge. Equation of current meter: v = 0.3 N + 0.05
• Width of each strip, b = 3 m, mean depth of strip = d, and the
total discharge, Q = Σ ΔQ
 Compute the stream flow for the measurement data
given below columns 1 to 5 of table 1 below. Take the
meter rating from equation. V= a+bN with a=0.03 and
b=0.66

Solution
As V = a + bN
So V = 0.03 + 0.66 N

V is in m/s and N is in revolutions/s. Using this the

following calculations in columns 6 to 11 of Table 1
below are made. Find the discharge using Mid‐Section
method.
Distance from bank Depth (m) Meter Depth Revolutions. Time

(m) (m) (m) (Sec)

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

0.60 0.30 0.18 10 50

1.20 1.05 0.84 22 55
0.21 35 52
1.80 1.56 1.26 28 53
0.3 40 58
2.70 1.89 1.5 32 58
0.39 45 60
3.30 1.32 1.15 28 45
0.27 33 46
3.90 0.66 0.39 22 50
4.50 0.24 0.15 12 49
5.10
 Width
Distance Depth Meter Revol- Velocity at Mean in
Time N of sub- Area Discharge
from bank (m) Depth utions. point vertical
section
(m) (m) (m) (Sec) (Rev./s) (m/s) (m/s) (m) (m²) (m³/s)
(6)=(4)/( (10)=(2) (11)= (8) x
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (7)= a+bN (8) (9)
5) x(9) (10)
0.60 0.30 0.18 10 50 0.20 0.162 0.162 0.30 0.09 0.015
1.20 1.05 0.84 22 55 0.40 0.294 0.384 0.60 0.63 0.242
0.21 35 52 0.67 0.474
1.80 1.56 1.26 28 53 0.53 0.379 0.432 0.75 1.17 0.505
0.3 40 58 0.69 0.485
2.70 1.89 1.5 32 58 0.55 0.394 0.460 0.75 1.418 0.652
0.39 45 60 0.75 0.525
3.30 1.32 1.15 28 45 0.62 0.441 0.472 0.60 0.792 0.374
0.27 33 46 0.72 0.503
3.90 0.66 0.39 22 50 0.44 0.320 0.320 0.60 0.396 0.127
4.50 0.24 0.15 12 49 0.24 0.192 0.192 0.30 0.072 0.014
5.10
Total 4.568 1.929
 Chemical Gauging Method   (Dilution 
Method
• This method is particularly useful when plenty of
turbulence exist in the flow and the measurement of
discharge by current‐meter is not feasible.

• In this method one section is selected upstream and

other at down stream end of the reach of channel.

• The upstream section is called the “dosing section”

and down‐stream end is called “sampling section”
• At the dosing section some soluble chemical salt
made up to a known concentration is fed into the
stream at a measured rate.

• By the time the flow reaches the sampling section

the salt solution is properly mixed with the whole
flow.

• Samples of water are drawn from the sampling

section from the down‐stream section and are
analyzed for the quantity of salt.

• There are two alternatives for injection;

– Sudden injection
– Injection at constant rate.
 Sudden Injection
– In this method a known volume “V” of the dosing
solution or tracer is added to the stream as rapidly
as possible.

– The concentration at the sampling point rises

rapidly to a peak and then slowly diminishes.

– Samples are then taken at regular intervals of time

and chemical concentration is determined in
laboratory
 Q = VC1 / t1t2∫ (C2- C0) dt
• V = Volume of injected solution
• C1 = Concentration of chemical in dozing solution.
• Co = Conc. of chemical already existing in stream water
• C2 = Conc. of chemical in water at sampling point

Sudden Injection of Volume 
V1 at section 1 Conc. At 
C1 Section 2
Concentration

C0 C2

t1 t2
Time
 Constant rate of Injection

• In this method the dosing of the chemical or any other

tracer has to be continued at a constant, pre‐determined
rate say ‘q’ until the concentration of the chemical is
constant at the sampling point down stream where
mixing is adequate
 Constant rate of Injection
The discharge is given as

Q = q(C1–C2)/(C2–Co) 
Where Co = Concentration of chemical already existing in flowing
fluid of stream

q = Constant rate of injection of chemical

C2 = Concentration of chemical in water at sampling point

Section 1
C1
Concentration

Background 
Concentration Section 2

C2
C0
0
Time
• One gram in 1000 ml is 1000 ppm and one
thousandth of a gram (0.001g) in 1000 ml is
one ppm.

• 1ppm=0.001g/litre
• 1ppm=1mg/litre
• 1ppm = 1000 parts per billion
• 1ppb = 1/1000 ppm
• A 30 g/l solution of a chemical was discharged
into a stream at a constant rate of 10x10‐6
m3/sec. The same chemical was not found in
stream water at all. The concentration of
chemical at sampling section was found to be 5
parts per billion. Estimate the stream discharge

Solution
From Equation 10, we have
Q = q(C1 – C2 )/ (C2 – Co )
q = 10x10‐6 m3/sec.
C1 = 30g/l=0.030 g/ml
C2 = 5000 parts per million = 0.005x10‐6 g/ml
Co = 0
Q = [10x10‐6 x (0.03‐5x10‐9)]÷( 5x10‐9 )= 60 m3/sec.
Stage ~ Discharge relationship
• The graphical curve between stage and
discharge is called the stage‐discharge curve
or Rating curve.

• The rating curve is nothing but the graph

giving the relation between stage and
discharge.

• Stage is plotted along y‐axis and discharge is

plotted along x‐axis.

• The shape of rating curve looks like parabola

• If ‘a’ is the gauge reading corresponding to zero‐
discharge and ‘g’ is the gauge reading when the
discharge is Q, the gauge height is (g‐a) for this
discharge Q. The relation between stream discharge
and gauge height can be expressed as

Q = C (g‐a) n
log Q = log C + n log (g‐a)
y c m x

Q = C when (g‐a) = 1
– Zero gauge height “a” is determined by assuming
the various values of ‘a’ until log ‘Q’ when plotted
against log (g‐a), forms a straight line.

– This straight line can then be extended to

extrapolate discharge corresponding to the
measured gauge height.
 Extension of Rating Curve
Stage ‘g’ A = Cross-Sectional D = Mean Discharge
(m) Area (m²) Depth (m) 'Q' (m³/s)
• Example 6 0.52 24.43 0.46 29

• Given in Table 4 below 0.76 62.62 0.55 76

1.06 111.5 0.64 139
is data for a station 1.23 145.86 0.85 187
rating curve. Find the 1.3 166.3 0.98 218
flow at 4.42 m stage, 1.55 199.74 1.19 268
by logarithmic method. 1.71 221.11 1.4 303
1.82 270.35 1.49 371
2.04 304.72 1.58 428
2.08 317.73 1.65 456
2.38 367.9 1.74 538
2.67 447.79 1.83 682
2.81 464.52 1.86 708
3.02 487.74 1.98 773
Table 4: Stage vs Discharge Data 4.42 761.81 2.74
 Given Data
Stage A = Cross-Sectional D = Mean Discharge
‘g’ (m) Area (m²) Depth (m) 'Q' (m³/s)
0.52 24.43 0.46 29
0.76 62.62 0.55 76
1.06 111.5 0.64 139
1.23 145.86 0.85 187
1.3 166.3 0.98 218
1.55 199.74 1.19 268
1.71 221.11 1.4 303
1.82 270.35 1.49 371
Stage = 0.76 2.04 304.72 1.58 428
A = 62.62 2.08 317.73 1.65 456
Q = 76 2.38 367.9 1.74 538
2.67 447.79 1.83 682
2.81 464.52 1.86 708
3.02 487.74 1.98 773
4.42 761.81 2.74
Stage = 0.52
A = 24.43
Q= 29
 Extension of Rating Curve
Solution:
• Logarithmic Method:
– The method involves choosing trial values of ‘a’,
finding logarithm of (g‐a) and Q. Then plotting Log
Q against Log (g‐a) as shown in Fig 7. The best fit
line is drawn through points for most suitable ‘a’
value. This line is extended to read required
discharge.

Continued….
 Extension of Rating Curve
– The calculations are shown in Table 5 and graph is
shown in Figure 7.
– The value of ‘a’ for which we obtain a straight line is
0.4.
– The discharge required is corresponding to log (4.42‐
0.4) = 0.60.
– The value of log Q against stage of 4.42 m is therefore
3.1 which corresponds to a discharge of = 1260 m³/s.
– i.e. taking antilog
– Log Q = 3.1
– Q = 10^3.1 = 1258.92
Continued….
 Given Data
D = Mean Depth 
Stage ‘g’ (m) A = Cross‐Sectional Area (m²) Discharge 'Q' (m³/s)
(m)
0.52 24.43 0.46 29
0.76 62.62 0.55 76
1.06 111.5 0.64 139
1.23 145.86 0.85 187
1.3 166.3 0.98 218
1.55 199.74 1.19 268
1.71 221.11 1.4 303
1.82 270.35 1.49 371
2.04 304.72 1.58 428
2.08 317.73 1.65 456
2.38 367.9 1.74 538
2.67 447.79 1.83 682
2.81 464.52 1.86 708
3.02 487.74 1.98 773
4.42 761.81 2.74
 Extension of Rating Curve
Discharge 'Q' Log10(g-a)
Stage 'g' (m) Log10Q
(m³/s) a = 0.3 a = 0.4 a = 0.5
0.52 29 1.46 -0.649 -0.906 -1.615
0.76 76 1.88 -0.335 -0.441 -0.582
1.06 139 2.14 -0.121 -0.182 -0.254
1.23 187 2.27 -0.034 -0.083 -0.139
1.30 218 2.34 -0.001 -0.047 -0.098
1.55 268 2.43 0.096 0.060 0.021
1.71 303 2.48 0.149 0.117 0.083
1.82 371 2.57 0.183 0.153 0.121
2.04 428 2.63 0.241 0.215 0.188
2.08 456 2.66 0.251 0.226 0.199
2.38 538 2.73 0.318 0.296 0.274
2.67 682 2.83 0.374 0.355 0.336
2.81 708 2.85 0.399 0.382 0.363
3.02 773 2.89 0.434 0.418 0.401
4.42 0.615 0.604 0.593

Table 5: Extension of Rating Curve

Extension of Rating Curve
Extension of Rating Curve by Logarithmic Method

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0
log Q

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
-2.0 -1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0
log (g-a)

a =0.3 a = 0.4 a = 0.5

Fig 7: Rating Curve

Continued….
 Extension of Rating Curve

– The value of discharge found by logarithmic

method is approximated one because it depends
upon plotting accuracy and judgment of drawing
best fit line.
– Suppose for example if value of log Q would have
been read as 3.15, the discharge value would
have been 1412 m³/s which is 12 % more than
previous computed value of 1260 m³/s.

Continued….
• The stream discharges for various stages at a
particular section were observed to be as follows.
Obtain an equation for the stage‐discharge
relationship and determine the discharge for a stage
of 4.9 m and 12 m.
• The relation between the stage (g) and discharge (Q) of
the stream can be assumed of the form

Q = C (g‐a) n

• Plot Q vs. (g–a) on a log paper assuming a value for the

constant a=0.6m (say); the curve obtained may be
concave downwards. Now assume a value a = 1.2 m
(say) and the curve obtained may be concave upward.
Now try an intermediate value a = 0.9 m, which plots a
straight line and represents the stage discharge
relationship.

• The slope of this straight line gives the value of the

exponent n=2.2, and from the graph for g–a=1,
Q=1.2=K. Now the constants are determined and the
equation for the stage‐discharge relationship is
 Q = 1.2(g–0.9)2.2

• Q can be directly read from the graph and the

stage discharge curve can be extended.

g = 4.9 m, Q = 25.3 cumecs

g = 12.0 m, Q = 240 cumecs

And the same can also be obtained from

equation
• Correction has to be applied for the discharge obtained from
the rating curve during a rising or falling stage i.e., during a
flood. For this purpose, an auxiliary gauge is established some
distance upstream or downstream from the main gauge
• If Q0 is the discharge when Δh0 is the difference of gauge readings
between the main and auxiliary gauges during normal flow, and Qa is
the discharge when Δha is the difference of the two gauges during a
rising or falling stage then
• The following data were obtained by stream
gauging of a river:
Main Gauge (m) 12.0 12.0

Auxiliary Gauge (m) 11.65 11.02

Discharge (cumecs) 9.50 15.20

• what should be the discharge when the main

gauge reads 12 m and the auxiliary gauge
reads 11.37 m?
• A√D Method
– This method is based on the Chezy’s formula
Q = AC√RS 
where
C = Roughness coefficient (Chezy’s Constant)
S = Bed Slope 
A = Cross sectional area
R = Hydraulic radius 
• If the stream is assumed to be a large rectangular 
channel (wide channel), with B >>y, 

Rh = A/P = By/(B+2y) (where P = Wetted 
perimeter)

If B>>y then ignoring 2y, 

Rh = A/P = By/B=y=D (Hydraulic Depth)

If C√S is assumed to be constant for the sta on and “D” 
the hydraulic depth is substituted for “R”, only when 
the section is wide
 Q = K A √D
Q α A√D

• Knowing the values of Q and A we can plot a

graph and get a straight line, which may be
extended.

• Values of A for stages above the existing rating

can be obtained by field measurements and used
with the extended curve for estimates of Q.
 Slope Area Method
– This method of estimating high flows is by application of
hydraulic principles. Sufficient high water marks must be
located along a reach of channel to determine water
surface slope at the time of peak.

– Cross sections of the channel may be determined by

leveling or sounding, and the area as well the hydraulic
radius is calculated.
– Manning’s Formula is different for  both M.K.S. & F.P.S.
Q =  A(1/n) R2/3√S (M.K.S) 
Q =  A(1.49/n)  R2/3√S   (F.P.S) 

A =  Area of cross section, S = Slope of water surface
n  =  Manning’s Constant , R= Hydraulic Radius
– The main source of error in applying this equation
is in estimating the roughness coefficient “n”.

– Since Q depends upon 1/n and the average value

of “n” for natural stream is about 0.035, an error
of 0.001 in “n” represents about 3% in discharge.

– Under the most favorable conditions an error of

10% may be expected in a slope area estimate of
flow.
 Extension of Rating Curve
Stage ‘g’ A = Cross-Sectional D = Mean Discharge
(m) Area (m²) Depth (m) 'Q' (m³/s)
• Example 6 0.52 24.43 0.46 29

– Given in Table is data 0.76 62.62 0.55 76

1.06 111.5 0.64 139
for a station rating 1.23 145.86 0.85 187
curve. Find the flow at 1.3 166.3 0.98 218
4.42 m stage, by A√D 1.55 199.74 1.19 268
method 1.71 221.11 1.4 303
1.82 270.35 1.49 371
2.04 304.72 1.58 428
2.08 317.73 1.65 456
2.38 367.9 1.74 538
2.67 447.79 1.83 682
2.81 464.52 1.86 708
3.02 487.74 1.98 773
4.42 761.81 2.74
 A = Cross-Sectional D = Mead Depth Discharge 'Q'
Stage 'g' (m) A√D
Area (m²) (m) (m³/s)
0.52 24.43 0.46 29 16.57
0.76 62.62 0.55 76 46.44
1.06 111.5 0.64 139 89.20
1.23 145.86 0.85 187 134.48
1.3 166.3 0.98 218 164.63
1.55 199.74 1.19 268 217.89
1.71 221.11 1.4 303 261.62
1.82 270.35 1.49 371 330.00
2.04 304.72 1.58 428 383.03
2.08 317.73 1.65 456 408.13
2.38 367.9 1.74 538 485.29
2.67 447.79 1.83 682 605.76
2.81 464.52 1.86 708 633.52
3.02 487.74 1.98 773 686.31
4.42 761.81 2.74 1261.02
 Extension Of Rating Curve by Chezy's
2000 Method
Discharge (Q m³/s)

1500

1000

500

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Value of AxSQRT(D)
 Stream Flow Units
• Rate of Run Off:
– It may be measured in cubic foot per second or
cubic meter per second. One cubic foot per
second is a volume of one ft³ when collected in
one second.
– The ft³/second are also called cusec or cfs. In the
metric system the cubic meter per second are also
called cumec.
 Stream Flow Units
• Volume Run Off:
– Volume of flow is expressed in cubic feet, cubic
meters, cubic inches and also in Acre foot and
second foot days.
 Second Foot Day (SFD)
• It is the volume of water collected in 24 hours (one 
day) at the rate of 1 cubic foot per second.
1 Sfd = 24 x 60x60 =86400 ft³.
• The smaller unit is second foot hour i.e. volume 
collected in one hour at the rate of 1cfs.
1 sfh = 60x60 =3600 ft³.
 Acre Foot
• If an area of one acre is converted by a 
uniform depth of 1ft of water. 
• The total volume thus collected is 1 Acre foot.
One Acre = 4840 (yards)²
1 Acre ‐ foot = (4840x9)x1 = 43560 ft³
and 1 Sfd = 1.9835 Acre foot.
 Hectare Meter
• If an area of one hectare is covered by a 
uniform depth of 1m of water. 
• The total volume thus collected is 1 Hectare‐
meter.
One Hectare‐meter = 104 m³
 Inches of Run Off 
• If a certain catchment area is having a
uniform depth of 1 cm of water, the total Run
off is 1 cm for that very catchment area.