STREAM FLOW /

RUNOFF
References:
1. Wilfredo P. David, Ph.D., Water Resources
Engineering, University of the Philippines Los Baños
2. Gregorio J. Galinato Jr. , Ph.D., College of
Engineering and Agri-Industries, Visayas State University
 Runoff
 Runoff or streamflow is that part of
precipitation which appears in surface
streams or rivers of either perennial or
intermittent flow.
1. COMPONENTS OF RUNOFF
 Runoff or stream flow has three
distinct components namely:

1. Surface runoff – that part of runoff

which travels over the ground surface
and through the channels to reach the
basin outlet.
1. COMPONENTS OF RUNOFF

2. Interflow – runoff due to the part of

precipitation which infiltrates into the
soil surface and moves laterally through
the upper soil horizons towards streams
as perched groundwater above the major
groundwater level.
1. COMPONENTS OF RUNOFF

2. Groundwater runoff – groundwater

discharge into a stream due to deep
percolation of the infiltrated water
into groundwater aquifers.
1. COMPONENTS OF RUNOFF
 Other useful definitions referring to
runoff components include :
 Overland flow – that part of surface
runoff that flows over the surfaces
towards stream channel.
 Direct runoff – same as surface runoff.
 Subsurface runoff – same as interflow.
 Base flow – same as groundwater runoff
 Precipitation excess or runoff coefficient
– that part of precipitation that
contributes directly to surface runoff.
 TOTAL PRECIPITATION

PRECIPITATION INFILTRATION EVAPOTRANSPIRATION

EXCESS

SURFACE
INTERFLOW DEEP
RUNOFF
PERCOLATION

GROUNDWATER
(BASE FLOW)
TOTAL RUNOFF/
STREAMFLOW
2. FACTORS AFFECTING OF RUNOFF

3.1 Climate
a. precipitation
b. vegetation interception of rainfall
c. Evapotranspiration
3.2 Physiographic factors
a. basin characteristics
b. channel characteristics
2. FACTORS AFFECTING OF RUNOFF

2.1 Climate
a. Precipitation

form

intensity

duration

time distribution

areal distribution

direction of storm movement in relation
to the orientation of the watershed

frequency of occurrence

antecedent precipitation – an index of
antecedent soil moisture condition
2. FACTORS AFFECTING OF RUNOFF

2.1 Climate
b. Vegetation interception of rainfall
c. Evapotranspiration
2. FACTORS AFFECTING OF RUNOFF

2.2 Physiographic Factors

a. Basin characteristics
 Geometric factors
• size
• shape
• slope
• orientation
• elevation
• stream density
2. FACTORS AFFECTING OF RUNOFF
2.2 Physiographic Factors
a. Basin characteristics
 Physical factors

land use cover

surface infiltration conditions

geologic conditions (e.g. permeability,
aquifer transmissivity and storage
coefficient

topographic conditions (depression
storage, lakes, swamps)

artificial drainage

man-made modification, dams, terraces,
etc.
2. FACTORS AFFECTING OF RUNOFF

2.2 Physiographic Factors

b. Channel characteristics
 Discharge capacity

cross section

slope

roughness

length

Tributaries
 Storage capacity (e.g., backwater
effects)
2. FACTORS AFFECTING OF RUNOFF

 Invery large watersheds, channel storage

has prominent effects on runoff. In
smaller watersheds, land use influence is
the predominant factor affecting runoff.
 Many hydrologists are of the consensus
that a small watershed is one which is
very sensitive to high intensity rainfall of
short duration with land area of less than
250 sq. km.
3. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

3.1 Current meters

 Most common is price current meter.
It consists of six conical cups
rotating around a vertical axis.
3. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

V = a + bN

where,
V = water velocity, fps
N = no. of revolutions per second
a, b = 0.1 and 2.2 for price current meter

 Each meter is calibrated by moving the

meter carriage in a pond of stagnant
water.
3. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

To measure the flow in a large river, the

river is usually divided into sections as
shown.
bridge

Meter
locations
3. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

 Procedure:
a. Measure the total depth of each
section with the metering cable.
b. Raise the meter to 0.8 depth and
measure the velocity.
c. Raise the meter to 0.2 depth and
measure the velocity.
3. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

 Procedure:
a. Measure the total depth of each
section with the metering cable.
b. In shallow water (< 0.5 m depth),
position the meter at six-tenths
depth below the water surface.
Average stream velocity of that
section will be the velocity @0.6d.
3. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS


3. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

 Procedure:
c. Compute the total discharge by
multiplying the section area to the
computed average velocity
n

Total Discharge = Σ a iV i
i=1
where,
ai = cross-section area of river
section i
Vi = average velocity of section i
3. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

3.2 River Stage / Water

Stage
 Staff gages, water level
recorders
 These are used to measure
the stage or depth of flow
above a datum or reference
level.
 A given stage is converted into discharge
reading using a stage-discharge relationship
curve or rating curve. The rating curve is
usually developed with the use of weirs,
flumes or current meters.
3. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

Rating curve

stage, h

discharge, q
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

3.Weirs
 Use for flow measurement in small streams
 The flow over the weir is free falling and can
be derived by the application of energy
equation or using the law of velocity of a free
falling body.
 In weirs, the head (h) is one-half the total depth
of water (H) over the crest of the weir.
 The discharge q is of the form,
q = cHa
where,
c, a = depends on the
shape of the weir
H = head
weir
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

3.Flumes

a. Parshall Flume
Use for flow measurement in small
streams with high flows
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

3.Flumes
a. Parshall Flume
 The flow discharge is derived through experimental and
the empirical equations under free flow condition are
given below:
Throat width, W Equations under Free-flow conditions
2” (5.08 cm)

3” (7.62 cm)

6” (15.25 cm)
9” (22.89 cm)
1’ – 8’ (0.3 – 2.5 m)

W = throat width, cm; Ha = upper gage reading, cm; Q = discharge in lps

4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

4.Float Method
 For rough estimation of flow in a uniform and
straight channel, such as irrigation canal.
 Velocity of float gives the surface velocity of
water in the channel, and should be multiplied by
0.85 to approximate the average velocity.

Float Method
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

4.Float Method
Process:
1. Select a straight section of the channel of
known distance.
2. Determine float velocity Vf by dividing this
distance by the measured time (with the use
of stop watch) transversed by the float
through the section.
3. Knowing the cross-sectional area, A, of the
channel, the discharge Q is calculated by:

Q = 0.85 AVf
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

5.Slope-Area Method
 A method of estimating flow by applying the
hydraulic principles.

 Sufficient high-water marks must be located

along a reach of a channel to permit
determination of the water-surface slope at the
time of peak.

 Cross-sections of the channel may be

determined by levelling or sounding, and the
channel cross-sectional area, A, in m2 and
hydraulic radius R in meters can be calculated.
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

B
Elev. @ A
Distance between A & B Elev. @ B

Datum line or Reference Line

 4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

5.Slope-Area Method
Values of n for the Manning’s formula:
Channel Condition n Channel Condition n
Cast-iron pipe 0.015 Natural Channels:
Concrete pipe 0.015 Clean, straight, full stage, no pods 0.029
Rubble masonry 0.017 As above with weeds and stones 0.035
Smooth earth 0.018 Winding, pools and shallows, clean 0.039
Firm gravel 0.020 As above at low stages 0.047
Corrugated metal pipe 0.023 Winding, pools and shallows, weeds and stones 0.042
and flume
As above, shallow stages, large stones 0.052
Sluggish, weedy, with deep pools 0.065
Very weedy and sluggish 0.112
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

5.Slope-Area Method
Cross-sectional area, A, wetted perimeter, P,
and hydraulic radius R of the channel can be
calculated by these formulas:

A. Rectangular Channel

A d

b
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS

5.Slope-Area Method
 Cross-sectional area, A, wetted perimeter (P), top
width (t) and hydraulic radius ® of the channel can
be calculated by these formulas:

B. Trapezoidal Channel
T
t
D
A d

e
b
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS
5.Slope-Area Method
 Cross-sectional area, A, wetted perimeter (P), top
width (t) and hydraulic radius ® of the channel can
be calculated by these formulas:

C. Triangular Channel
T
Freeboard t
D
d

e
4. RUNOFF MEASUREMENTS
5.Slope-Area Method
 Cross-sectional area, A, wetted perimeter (P), top
width (t) and hydraulic radius ® of the channel can
be calculated by these formulas:

D. Parabolic Channel
T
Freeboard t

D
d
 Sample Problems
 Discharge/Velocity Measurement Using
Current Meter
Distance Water Meter Revolutions Time,
from the Depth, m Depth, m sec
Problem1: Compute bank, m
the stream flow for 0.6 0.30 0.18 10 50
the measurement 1.2 1.05 0.84 22 55
data below using the 0.21 35 52

current meter if the 1.8 1.56 1.25 28 53

relationship between 0.31 40 58

2.4 1.89 1.51 32 58
water velocity (m/s)
0.38 45 60
and the rotational
3.0 1.32 1.06 28 45
speed of current
0.26 33 46
meter (rpm) is
3.6 0.46 0.28 22 50
expressed as
4.2 0.25 0.15 12 49
V= 0.0266+0.024N 4.8 0
 Sample Problems
 Discharge/Velocity Measurement Using
Current Meter
Problem1: Compute the stream flow for the measurement data
below using the current meter if the relationship between water
velocity (m/s) and the rotational speed of current meter (rpm) is
expressed as V= 0.0266+0.024N

ILLUSTRATION:
 Sample Problems
 Discharge/Velocity Measurement Using
Current Meter
Problem1: Compute the stream flow for the measurement data
below using the current meter if the relationship between water
velocity (m/s) and the rotational speed of current meter (rpm) is
expressed as V= 0.0266+0.024N
Section Sectional N (rpm) Point Average Sectional
SOLUTION: Area Velocity Velocity Discharg
e
 Sample Problems
 Discharge/Velocity Measurement Using
Water Stage
Problem2: Streamflow in a Discharge Stage h (m)
river was measured at various (m3/s)
stages using a current meter. 27.2 3.7
The results are given below: 21.7 2.8
The stage-discharge relation of 78.4 5.4
the form q = ahb is to be 9.7 1.9
developed. Based on the 166.7 7.9
observed data, what is the value 128.1 6.3
of the exponent b? 159.6 7.1
129.5 7.0
78.7 4.8
32.7 3.6
 Sample Problems
 Discharge/Velocity Measurement Using
Weirs & Flumes
Problem3: A triangular, 600 V-notch weir was used to
determine water flow in a small stream. Calculate the
discharge if the height of water above the notch at an
upstream point 2.5 m away from the weir is 0.35 m.
 Sample Problems
 Discharge/Velocity Measurement Using
Weirs & Flumes
Problem4: Calculate the discharge of a stream if the height of
water at the upper gage of an 6-inch width parshall flume reads
0.6 m.
 Sample Problems
 Discharge/Velocity Measurement Using
Float Method
Problem5: The Hydrometeorology students were tasked to
estimate the volumetric flow rate of a natural channel with
parabolic cross-section using the float method. The students had
identified a 120-m clean, straight channel section with a water
depth of 65 cm and the top width of 2.5 m. In each trials, the float
(ping-pong ball) was released at the upstream side, allowing it to
traversed through this 120-m section while recording the time it
takes to reach the downstream point using a stopwatch. After 8
trials, the recorded time were 22, 26, 18, 24, 22, 25, 20, and 23
minutes respectively.
 Sample Problems
 Discharge/Velocity Measurement Using
Float Method
Problem: In problem 5, estimate the discharge using slope-area
method if the difference of elevation between the upstream and
downstream end of the 120-m section is 150 cm.
 Sample Problems
 Discharge/Velocity Measurement Using
Float Method
Problem: Determine the discharge in a newly constructed
trapezoidal canal with manning’s roughness coefficient of 0.014,
channel slope of 0.2%, sideslope is 1H:4V, normal depth is 0.5 m
and bottom width is 1.4 meters
 Sample Problems
 Discharge/Velocity Measurement Using
Float Method
Problem: Determine the discharge in a newly constructed
trapezoidal canal with manning’s roughness coefficient of 0.014,
channel slope of 0.2%, sideslope is 1H:4V, normal depth is 0.5 m
and bottom width is 1.4 meters
 Sample Problems
 Discharge/Velocity Measurement Using
Float Method
Problem: Determine the discharge from a 1.5 m diameter culvert
(n=0.015) that carries water half-full. The slope between the both
ends of the culvert is 0.002.