Stream Gauging

Discharge Estimation
1
• 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

2
• In this method, the discharge in the two‐ triangular bits near the ends are
not included in the discharge computation.

3
 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%

4
• 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

5
• Width of each strip, b = 3 m, mean depth of strip = d, and the total
discharge, Q = Σ ΔQ

6
7
• 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 Table1 below are made. Find the discharge using
Mid‐Section method.

8
 Width
Distanc Dept Mete Revol Time N Velocity Mean of Area Discharge
e from h r - at in sub-
bank (m) Dept ution point vertica sectio
h s. l n
(m) (m) (m) (Sec) (Rev./s) (m/s) (m/s) (m) (m²) (m³/s)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)=(4)/( (7)= a+bN (8) (9) (10)=(2 (11)= (8) x
5) ) (10)
x(9)
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

9
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.

10
• 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;

1. Sudden injection
2. Injection at constant rate.

11
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

12
13
 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

• 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

14
• 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

15
• 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
5000 parts per million. Estimate the stream discharge

16
Stage ~ Discharge
relationship

17
• 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

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19
20
• 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

21
• 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.

22
• 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

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24
25
• 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.

26
• 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 paper assuming a value for the constant a =
0.6 m (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

27
• Q = 1.2 (h – 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

28
• 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?

29
30
31
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

32
• 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 station and “D” the hydraulic depth
is substituted for “R”, only when the section is wide

33
• 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.

34
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 and hydraulic radius calculated.

35
• 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

36
• 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.

37
Extension of Rating Curve
Stage A = Cross- D= Dischar
Example 6 ‘g’ Sectional Mean ge 'Q'
(m) Area (m²) Depth (m³/s)
(m)
0.52 24.43 0.46 29
Given in Table is data
0.76 62.62 0.55 76
for a station rating 1.06 111.5 0.64 139
curve. Find the flow at 1.23 145.86 0.85 187
4.42 m stage, by A√D 1.3 166.3 0.98 218
method 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

38
Stage 'g' (m) A = Cross-SectionalArea (m²) D = Mead Depth (m) Discharge 'Q' (m³/s) A√D

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

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40
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.

41
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.

42
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.

43
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.

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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

45
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.

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