Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service BAE-1502

Irrigation Water Flow

Measurement
Saleh Taghvaeian
Extension Irrigation Specialist Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Fact Sheets
are also available on our website at:
Irrigation water management begins with knowing how much http://osufacts.okstate.edu
water is available for irrigation. Fact Sheet 1501, discusses water
measurement units and useful factors for converting from one are relatively expensive; however, they have a good degree
measurement unit to another. The purpose of this fact sheet is of accuracy if properly installed and maintained. The most
to discuss a few basic methods of water flow measurement. common type of flow meter is the propeller meter. Depending
Methods of measuring irrigation flow rate can be grouped on its type, these meters may give the flow rate or the total
into three basic categories—direct, velocity-area, and constricted volume or both.
flow. Choice of method to use will be determined by the volume Several points should be considered in propeller meter
of water to be measured, the degree of accuracy desired, wheth- installation and management:
er the installation is permanent or temporary, and the financial • The readings are accurate only if the pipe is flowing full.
investment required. The flow may not be full at cerain parts of the pipe, such
as before discharge points.
Direct Measurement Methods (1) • Meters should be installed at a point where turbulance is
Measuring the period of time required to fill a container of minimum. This usually occurs after an extended length
a known volume can be used to measure small rates of flow of straight pipe.
such as from individual siphon tubes, sprinkler nozzles, or from • Meters should be calibrated on a regular basis.
individual outlets in gated pipe. Ordinarily one gallon or five gal- • Debris, weeds and moss in irrigation water reduces the
lon containers will be adequate. Small wells can be measured accuracy by impacting the propeller's rotation.
by using a 55 gallon barrel as the container. It is recommended
Float Method (3)
that the measurement be repeated at least three and preferably
five times to arrive at a reliable rate of flow per unit of time. The float method can be used to obtain an approximate
measure of the rate of flow occurring in an open ditch. It is
especially useful where more expensive installations are not
Velocity-Area Methods justified or high degree accuracy is not required.
Select a straight section of ditch from 50 to 100 feet long
Flow Meters (2) with fairly uniform cross-sections. Make several measurements
Commercial flow meters are available for measuring the of the width and depth of the test cross-section so as to arrive
total volume of water flowing through a pipe. These flow meters at an average cross-sectional area. Using a tape, measure

Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources • Oklahoma State University

 discharge factor where “Y” is measured from the outside of
the length of the test section of the ditch. Place a small floating
the pipe to the top of the water jet as indicated in Figure 4.
object in the ditch a few feet above the starting point of the
test section and time the number of seconds for this object to
Nominal Factor When Factor When
travel the length of the test section. This time measurement
Pipe Diameter Y=6 Y=12
should be made several times to arrive at a reliable average
value. By dividing the length of the test section (feet) by the
2" 5.02 3.52
average time required (seconds), one can estimate velocity
3" 11.13 7.77
in feet per second. Since the velocity of water at the surface
4" 17.18 13.4
is greater than the average velocity of the stream, multiply
6" 43.7 30.6
the estimated surface velocity by a correction factor (0.80 for
8" 76.0 52.9
smooth lined ditches, and 0.60 for rough ditches) to obtain the
10" 120.0 83.5
average stream velocity.
12" 173.0 120.0
To obtain the rate of flow, multiply the average cross-sec-
tional area of the ditch (square feet) times the average stream
EXAMPLE: A farmer has a well discharging a full 8" pipe.
velocity (feet per second) and the answer is the rate of flow in
The horizontal distance (X) is 19" while the jet surface drops
cubic feet per second.
12". What is the well yield?
Trajectory Method (4)
Step 1: Enter the water discharge factor table at 8" nominal
The trajectory method of water measurement is a form of
pipe diameter. Moving to the right and under the column
velocity area calculations that can be used for obtaining a rapid
headed Y = 12" we find the factor to be 52.9.
and rough estimate of flow rate discharging from a horizontal
Step 2: Multiplying this factor 52.9, times the horizontal dis-
pipe flowing full. Two measurements of the discharging jet
tance, 19" calculate the well yield to be 1,005 gpm.
are required to calculate the rate of flow of the water. The first
measurement is the horizontal distance, “X”, (parallel to the
centerline of the pipe) required for the jet to drop a vertical Constriction Flow Methods (5,6,7,8,9,10)
distance “Y” which is the second measurement. Methods employing a constriction of pre-determined
By using ”Y” equal to either 6 or 12 inches, the rate of flow dimensions are frequently used for measuring flow in irriga-
for full pipes can be calculated by multiplying the horizontal tion canals and ditches. Constricting type measuring devices
distance “X” (in inches) times the appropriate factor for the can generally be placed in one of three categories—weirs,
nominal pipe diameter. The following table contains water flumes, and orifices.

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 Generally, only one or two measurements are required the flow from the orifice discharges entirely into air or “fully
where the dimensions of the constriction are known. Using submerged” where the downstream water surface is above
these measurements, rate of flow is determined from either the top of the orifice and the flow discharges into water. Avoid
a table, a graph, or by calculation. Due to the wide variety of orifices that do not flow free or are not completely submerged.
types and sizes of constricting devices, flow tables are not Orifice plates properly installed on open pump discharges
included in this publication. The local County Extension Director can provide a relatively inexpensive and reasonably accurate
or local USDA office can obtain such tables or graphs. means of measuring well discharge. It is very important that
Basically, a weir measures flow by causing the water to the opening in the orifice plate be accurately machined to
flow over a notch of pre-determined shape and dimensions. dimension. Slight variation from specified dimensions can
They are quite accurate when properly constructed, installed, cause wide variation from calculated rate of flow.
and maintained. Weirs do have some limitations. First, they The equation for calculating flow through an orifice is:
require considerable drop (difference in head) between the Q = K√H
upstream and downstream water surfaces which is often either Where
not available in flat grade ditches or is undesirable. Second, Q = flow in gallons per minute.
it is frequently necessary to construct a pool or stilling area K = a constant dependent upon a combination of pipe size, ori-
above the weir so the water loses its velocity. Unless the fice size and orifice shape, and discharge conditions.
water appears practically still, discharge readings will be H = Head in inches.
inaccurate. Weir installations in earthen ditches can be par- The following table gives values of K for various combina-
ticularly troublesome. The stilling area in the ditch above the tions of orifice sizes and pipe sizes discharging into air. These
weir frequently tends to “silt in” while excessive erosion may values of K should be used only for orifice plates machined
occur immediately downstream from the weir. to the dimensions shown in Illustration 9.
A flume measures flow by causing the water to flow through
a channel of pre-determined dimensions. Flumes usually can Value of K
operate with less difference in elevation between upstream and
downstream water surfaces than can weirs. Like weirs, when Pipe Size Orifice Size in Inches
properly installed and maintained, flumes are quite accurate Inches 3 4 5 6 7 8
means of measuring water flow. 4 42.3
An orifice measures water flowing through an opening of 6 33.3 63.3 123.0
pre-determined shape and size. For a given amount of head 8 59.0 97.3 155.0
(pressure) a specific quantity of water will flow through the 10 141.0
208.0
311.0
opening. Orifices can be classified as “free flowing” where

BAE-1502-3
 The following graph can be used for determining the the degree of accuracy desired, the desired permanence of
“square root” of the head (H) in inches. Having measured installation, and the grade or fall of the ditch or stream. The
the head H using the glass tube and a scale, enter the graph degree of accuracy afforded by the various measurement
at the left side. Move horizontally to intercept the curve and methods of course depends upon the skill of the operator as
move downward to determine the square root of H (√H ). well as the proper and careful installation of the device. The
The following is an example of how to calculate flow using generally accepted degree of accuracy using the trajectory
an orifice plate on a pump discharge. A farmer has a 6" orifice method is ±10 percent, while orifices, flumes, and weirs can
plate installed on an 8" pump discharge. The orifice plate is provide ± 3 percent to 5 percent, accuracy. Commercial flow
machined to the dimension and shape shown in the sketch. meters usually fall in the range of ± 2 percent to 4 percent.
He or she determines the head “H” to be 27". Consulting the The importance of proper installation and operation as well
table, he or she determines the constant “K” for a 6" orifice as exercising due caution when making measurements or
in an 8" pipe to be 155. Using the graph he or she estimates taking readings cannot be over emphasized. Your local County
the square root of 27 to be about 5.2. Substituting the values Extension Director or local USDA office can provide detailed
in the equation Q = K√H, Q is calculated to be 806.0 (5.2 x information relative to water measurement devices.
155).
The final selection of the type of water flow measurement
device will depend on the volume of water to be measured,

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The author wishes to thank James E. Garton, Delbert Schwab and A. D. Barefoot of the OSU Agricultural Engincering
Department for their assistance and helpful suggestions in preparing this publication.

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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Director of Cooperative Extension Service,
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma. This publication is printed and issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Vice President, Dean, and Director of the Division
of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and has been prepared and distributed at a cost of 20 cents per copy. Revised 1114

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