Hydrology catchments surface water and

groundwater resources.
- The flow of water across and through
 Hydrological investigation helps us
new surface environments
to know the required reservoir
- The science of the waters of the earth
capacity to assure adequate water
and its atmosphere. It deals with
for irrigation or municipal water
occurrence, circulation, distribution and
supply in drought condition.
movements of these waters over the
 Used in connection with design and
globe and their interaction with the
operations of hydraulic structure.
physical and biological environments
 Hydrology is an essential tool in
Engineering Hydrology planning and building hydraulic
structures
- Engineering Hydrology is the branch of  Hydrology is used fro city water
hydrology which deals with estimation and supply design which is based on
analysis of water resources and related catchments area, amount of
hydrologic quantities. rainfall, dry period , storage
- It also investigates hydrologic problems such capacity.
as floods and droughts and develops strategies
to mitigate them. Need for the Hydrologic Studies
Scope of hydrology The need of the hydrologic studies from the
 For knowing the sources of water in an following problems:
area  Uncertainty of precipitation and it’s
 For knowing quality and quantity of seasonal occurrence
water in an area  Seasonal flow rivers, and
 For distribution of river water for full  Population growth and rising standards
filling of different area’s forming needs. of living
 The maximum probable flood that may
occur at given site and it’s frequency; Need for the Hydrologic Studies
this required for the safe design of In many countries water is the main source of
drains and culverts, dams and reservoir energy and the agriculture is an important
channels and other flood control sector for their economic growth. Although
structures water is vital to life, but the precipitation which
is the main source of water, is an uncertain
Applications of hydrology phenomenon i. e. there might be plenty of
 Hydrology is used to find out rainfall when we do not need it and no rain
maximum probable flood at when it is required. So we need to plan
proposed sites dams accordingly. It is necessary to store surplus
 The variations of water production water when and where available and to use it
from catchments can be calculated when and where required. Uncertainty of
and described by hydrology precipitation makes the study of various
 Engineering hydrology enables us to features of hydrology exceedingly important,
find out the relationship between a which then will be helpful in better planning
and development of water resources.
Need for the Hydrologic Studies Major Aspects of Hydrology
The flow in rivers varies from season to season. The main jobs of a hydrologist are collection
There are low flows during lean period and high and analysis of data, and making predictions out
flows during floods. The floods although of this analysis.Collection of DataThe hydrologic
bringing fertile silts, but are hazardous to data comprises:a. Rainfall Datab. Snowfall and
human life and property. Flood mitigation is Snowmelt Datac. Runoff Data (Catchment
necessary to safeguard human life, livestock, Runoff and Stream Flows), andd. Groundwater
cash crops and against spread of disease.The Data
increased population and rising standards of
Major Aspects of Hydrology
living have greatly increased the demands of
Analysis of Data
water. Hydrologic studies are of utmost
importance for planning and development of Analysis of hydrologic data includes checking it
water resources to meet these demands for consistency and homogeneity as well as
finding its various statistical parameters.
Importance of Hydrology in Civil Engineering
Hydrology has an important role in the design Prediction
and operation of water resources engineering
projects like irrigation, flood control, water Prediction means finding design values and
supply schemes, hydropower projects and maximum possible floods and droughts. Various
navigation. Many important civil engineering approaches for prediction of hydrologic values
projects have failed because of improper are:
assessment of hydrologic aspects of the Statistical Approach, Physical Approach,
projects. Hydraulic structures which are very Deterministic Approach
important civil engineering projects and cost
millions of dollars may fail due to improper
hydrologic design. Major Hydrologic Projects
Importance of Hydrology in Civil Engineering Engineering Hydrology provides hydrologic data
For example, a dam may fail due to inadequate essentially required for a variety of projects,
spillway capacity. There may be reservoir such as: Hydraulic Structures like Dams, Bridges,
operational problems due to lack of hydrologic Head-works, Spillways and Culverts etc.
data like probable inflows, evaporation and Hydroelectric Power Generation Flood Control
seepage. There might be failure of a bridge or a Projects Irrigation Projects Environmental
culvert if its maximum design flood is not Pollution Control, and Planning and Execution of
estimated properly. Construction of a dam may Water Resources Development Projects
cause problem for bridges upstream and Major Hydrologic Projects
downstream if proper hydrologic studies Following is an exhaustive list of projects dealt
regarding floods and erosion downstream are with in Hydrology: Design of:
not estimated and taken into account in design.
Groundwater studies are important for Surface water reservoirs
installation of tube wells and irrigation projects.
Groundwater reservoirs
These are just a few examples which show the
importance of hydrologic studies for civil Urban storm water sewers and airport drainage
engineering projects. systems
Urban water distribution systems Flood control
structures (Dikes, River Improvement Works,
etc.)Navigational systems (Locks, Ports, etc.)

Agricultural drainage systems Temporary

Major Hydrologic Projects

Flow control systems for highway development

Hydraulic structures (Bridges, Culverts, Dams,

nSoil conservation

Sanitary landfills and waste disposal facilities

Contaminated-soil remedial systems

Polluted-aquifer containment or restoration