Reasons flow measurements are important:
This can only be used in a location where all of the water can be caught with a bucket. Usually to use this method a pipe needs to be installed so that all the water can be captured. Find a bucket with a known volume (gallons). With a stopwatch, time how long it takes to fill that bucket to the known volume. The following formula is then used to determine the flow.
Flow (gal/min) = Volume (gallons) X 60
Time (Sec)
- Needed to calculate metal and acidity loadings (amount of pollution traveling down the stream over a certain period of time)
- Needed to calculate design flow for treatment system sizing.
This can only be used in a location where all of the water can be caught with a bucket. Usually to use this method a pipe needs to be installed so that all the water can be captured. Find a bucket with a known volume (gallons). With a stopwatch, time how long it takes to fill that bucket to the known volume. The following formula is then used to determine the flow.
Flow (gal/min) = Volume (gallons) X 60
Time (Sec)
Weirs (V-notch and rectangular)
Weirs are typically made out of wood, metal or plastic with a v-notch or rectangular notch in the top. The v-notch is usually 90º. The opening sizes for a rectangular weir are usually in1 foot increments. Sufficient room is required upstream of the weir so that pooling of the water can be created. It is critical that the top of the weir is level. The water level (head) must reach a steady level upstream of the weir. This head is what is measured to determine the flow. There are many tables that can be used to determine flow in gallons/minute or cubic feet per second once the water level going over the weir is known.
Weirs are typically made out of wood, metal or plastic with a v-notch or rectangular notch in the top. The v-notch is usually 90º. The opening sizes for a rectangular weir are usually in1 foot increments. Sufficient room is required upstream of the weir so that pooling of the water can be created. It is critical that the top of the weir is level. The water level (head) must reach a steady level upstream of the weir. This head is what is measured to determine the flow. There are many tables that can be used to determine flow in gallons/minute or cubic feet per second once the water level going over the weir is known.
Flumes
These are open-channel flow measuring devices that restrict the channel area and/or change the channel slope. This results in an increased velocity and a change in the level of the water flowing through the flume. The flume must be level but does not require damming of the stream behind it. There is a scale in the flume that indicates how the level of water corresponds to a flow measurement in gallons per minute. |
Velocity Area Flow Method
A flow or current meter is needed for this method. A uniform section of stream needs to be chosen that is free of as many obstacles as possible. A measuring tape is stretched across the stream. Then starting at the water’s edge, depth of the water and velocity of water is taken with the flow meter in sections along the tape. The width of the sections are also recorded. By using the flow meter datasheet, the discharge of the stream in gallons/minute can be calculated.
A flow or current meter is needed for this method. A uniform section of stream needs to be chosen that is free of as many obstacles as possible. A measuring tape is stretched across the stream. Then starting at the water’s edge, depth of the water and velocity of water is taken with the flow meter in sections along the tape. The width of the sections are also recorded. By using the flow meter datasheet, the discharge of the stream in gallons/minute can be calculated.
Float method
This method is the easiest but probably the least accurate. A 30 foot section of stream that is relatively straight is marked off. A bobber or another item that floats, such as a piece of citrus fruit, is dropped and the time it takes to travel the 30 foot distance is recorded. Velocity is calculated by taking distance traveled in feet and dividing by time in seconds. Some depth measurements need to be taken in order to find the average in the section. Discharge can be found using the following equation
Discharge (ft3/s) = Stream width (feet) X Average depth feet) X Velocity (feet/s) X Constant
Constant: Multiply by 0.8 for gravel or rocky bottom streams or 0.9 for sandy or muddy bottom streams.
To convert flow to gallons per minute take the discharge and multiply by 448.8.
This method is the easiest but probably the least accurate. A 30 foot section of stream that is relatively straight is marked off. A bobber or another item that floats, such as a piece of citrus fruit, is dropped and the time it takes to travel the 30 foot distance is recorded. Velocity is calculated by taking distance traveled in feet and dividing by time in seconds. Some depth measurements need to be taken in order to find the average in the section. Discharge can be found using the following equation
Discharge (ft3/s) = Stream width (feet) X Average depth feet) X Velocity (feet/s) X Constant
Constant: Multiply by 0.8 for gravel or rocky bottom streams or 0.9 for sandy or muddy bottom streams.
To convert flow to gallons per minute take the discharge and multiply by 448.8.
Standard tables or formulas can be used to determine flow. See below.
One foot Rectangular Weir
General Formula: Q=3.33(L-0.2H)H1.5 (Q=Discharge ft3/sec, L=length of weir opening in feet, H=head on weir in feet)
One foot Rectangular Weir
General Formula: Q=3.33(L-0.2H)H1.5 (Q=Discharge ft3/sec, L=length of weir opening in feet, H=head on weir in feet)