University of Guyana
Faculty of Engineering &Technology
Department of Civil Engineering
Course: Engineering Hydrology 1
Course code: CIV 3113
Assignment 2: Group A
Due date: March 6, 2022
Lecturer: Ms. Shanomae Eastman
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Group Members _______________________________________________________ 1
Question 1 _________________________________________________________ 2 - 4
Question 2 _________________________________________________________ 5 - 7
Question 3 _________________________________________________________ 8 - 9
Question 4 _______________________________________________________ 10 - 12
Question 5 _______________________________________________________ 13 - 14
Question 6 _______________________________________________________ 15 - 16
Question 7 _______________________________________________________ 17 - 18
References ___________________________________________________________ 19
Group A Members
Page 1 of 22
Questions 1
(a)What are the factors that influence the selection of a site for a stream gauging station?
Answer:
Factors that influence the selection of a site for a stream gauging station:
✓ The section should be straight and uniform for a length of about 10 to 20 times the width of
the stream.
✓ The bed and banks of the stream should be firm and stable so as to ensure consistency of area-
discharge relationship, i.e., the cross section should not be subjected to change by silting or
scouring, during different stages of flow; a smooth rock, shingle or clay bed is favorable, while
a fine sandy bed is unfavorable.
✓ The bed and banks should be free from vegetal growth, boulders or other obstructions like
bridge piers, etc.
✓ There should be no larger overflow section at flood stage. The best cross section is one with
V-shape, so that there is sufficient depth for immersing the current meter without being affected
by the bed roughness of the stream.
✓ The part of the reach having the most regular transverse section and steady flow with the
current normal to the metering section and velocities in the range of 0.3–1.2 m/sec should be
selected.
✓ To ensure consistency between stage and discharge, there should be a good control section far
downstream of the gauging site. This control may be in the form of steep rapids, large rocky
boulders, restricted passages, crest of weirs or anicuts etc.
✓ The sites above the confluence of rivers are best avoided if the flow is affected by back water
conditions due to the varying discharges in the tributaries.
✓ The stream gauging station should be easily accessible.
Page 2 of 22
(b)How the stage-discharge-rating curve for a stream-gauging station is prepared. Sketch a typical
rating curve.
Answer:
How the stage-discharge-rating curve for a stream-gauging station is prepared:
According to (Training, 2018) the stage-discharge-rating curve for a stream-gauging station is
prepared by plotting stream discharge ‘Q’ vs gauge height ‘h’. The stream discharge values are
obtained from the current meter readings whilst the height/water stage can be read from the enamel
painted staff gauges.
Figure 1: A sketch of a typical rating curve.
Source: Drawn by Bheesham Mc Call (USI:1016990)
Date: March 4, 2022.
Page 3 of 22
(c)What are the sources of error in getting the discharge from the rating curve?
Answer:
Sources of error in getting the discharge from the rating curve:
According to (Huard, 2007) some sources of error in getting the discharge from the rating curve
are:
✓ Flow unsteadiness
✓ Morphologic changes in the river bed (sediment transport) or channel
✓ Changes in river bed roughness (vegetation, bed forms)
✓ Backwater effects from downstream obstacles
✓ Variation in the measurement technique used for flow measurement
✓ Different hydraulic characteristics for each hydrometric station
✓ Uncertainty in velocity measurements is favored by a complex hydraulic geometry
✓ The condition of the control (e.g., has there been excessive plant growth,
sedimentation, erosion)
✓ The quality of the measurements and the complexity of the rating curve
✓ Limit of reading and precision of instrument
Page 4 of 22
Question 2
(a)Velocity measurements are to be made at a vertical in a stream. At what height or heights from
the bed, will you make the measurements to determine the mean in vertical velocity by: (i) one-
point method, and (ii) by two-points method?
Answer:
They are two methods used to determine the vertical velocity in a stream. The one-point method
and the two-point method. The cross section of the stream is taken and is divided into strips of
equal width (b) and the current meter is lowered to a depth of 0.6 times the depth (0.6d) at the
centre of each strip in shallow water for the one-point method. In the two-point method the current
meter is lowered to a depth of 0.2 times the depth and 0.8 times the depth (0.2d and 0.8d) in deep
water at the centre of each strip. (Raghunath, H.M, Current meter gaugings, 2006)
(b)The following data were collected for a stream at a gauging station. Compute the discharge by
(i) mid-section method (ii) mean-section method.
Page 5 of 22
Answer:
(i) Computing discharge by mid- section method:
Page 6 of 22
(ii) Computing discharge by mean- section method:
Page 7 of 22
Question 3
Answer:
(i) Computing discharge by mid- section method:
Page 8 of 22
(ii) Computing discharge by mean- section method:
Page 9 of 22
Question 4
The following data were collected from a stream-gauging operation in a river. Compute the
discharge by (i) mid-section method (ii) mean-section method.
Answer:
Computing discharge by mid - section method (𝑸𝒎𝒊𝒅 ) and mean -section method (𝑸𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 ):
Distance from
left water edge Depth Velocity (m/s) Velocity (mid) Velocity mean
(m) (m) at 0.2 d at 0.8 d 𝑽𝒎𝒊𝒅 𝑽𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝑸𝒎𝒊𝒅 𝑸𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0
1.5 1.3 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.25 0.975 0.1625
3.0 2.5 0.9 0.6 0.75 0.625 2.8125 1.246875
4.5 1.7 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.675 1.53 2.0475
6.0 1 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.55 0.75 1.2403125
7.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.35 0.425 0.21 0.511875
9.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.175 0 0.085
Total 6.2775 5.2940625
Page 10 of 22
(i) Computing discharge by mid- section method:
0+0
✓ =0
2
0.6+0.4
✓ = 0.5
2
0.9+0.6
✓ = 0.75
2
0.7+0.5
✓ = 0.6
2
0.6+0.4
✓ = 0.5
2
0.4+0.3
✓ = 0.35
2
0+0
✓ =0
2
Discharge (Q) = b × d × 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑑
∴ b = 1.5 due to distance between 2 observations is 1.5 (1.5 – 0 = 1.5 / 3 -1.5 = 1.5 / 9 – 7.5 =
1.5…)
Hence,
✓ 1.5 × 0 × 0 = 0
✓ 1.5 × 1.3 × 0.5 = 0.975
✓ 1.5 × 2.5 × 0.75 = 2.8125
✓ 1.5 × 1.7 × 0.6 = 1.53
✓ 1.5 × 1 × 0.5 = 0.75
✓ 1.5 × 0.4 × 0.35 = 0.21
✓ 1.5 × 0 × 0 = 0
Total discharge by mid-section method (𝑸𝒎𝒊𝒅 ) = 6.2775 m3/s
Page 11 of 22
(ii) Computing discharge by mean- section method:
✓ 0
0.5+0
✓ = 0.25
2
0.75+0.5
✓ = 0.625
2
0.6+0.75
✓ = 0.675
2
0.5+0.6
✓ = 0.55
2
0.35+0.5
✓ = 0.425
2
0+0.35
✓ = 0.175
2
Discharge (Q) = b × 𝑑𝑚 × 𝑉𝑚
2 𝑑0 +𝑑1
∴ For first end: 𝑄𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 = 3 × 𝑣1 × ( )×𝑏
2
2 𝑑𝑛 +𝑑𝑛−1
∴ For last end: Q = 3 × 𝑣𝑛−1 × ( )×𝑏
2
Hence,
✓ 0
2 1.3+0
✓ × 0.25 × ( ) × 1.5 = 0.1625
3 2
2.5+1.3 0.625+0.25
✓ 1.5 × ( )×( ) = 1.246875
2 2
1.7+2.5 0.675+0.625
✓ 1.5 × ( )×( ) = 2.0475
2 2
1+1.7 0.55+0.675
✓ 1.5 × ( )×( ) = 1.2403125
2 2
0.4+1 0.425+0.55
✓ 1.5 × ( )×( ) = 0.511875
2 2
2 0+0.4
✓ × 0.425 × ( ) × 1.5 = 0.085
3 2
Total discharge by mean-section method (𝑸𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 ) = 5.2940625 m3/s
Page 12 of 22
Question 5
A small stream with catchment area of 70 km2 was gauged at a location some distance downstream
of a reservoir. The data of the mean monthly gauged flow, rainfall and upstream diversion are
given. The regenerated flow reaching the stream upstream of the gauging station can be assumed
to be constant at a value of 0.2 Mm3/month. Obtain the rainfall runoff relation for this stream.
What virgin flow can be expected for a monthly rainfall value of 15.5 cm?
Page 13 of 22
Answer:
Page 14 of 22
Question 6
Flow measurement of river Netravati at Bantwal (catchment area = 3184 km2) yielded the
following annual volumes:
The withdrawal upstream of the gauging station (for meeting irrigation, drinking water and
industrial needs are 91 Mm3 in 1970-71 and is found to increase linearly at a rate of 2 Mm3/year.
The annual evaporation loses from the water bodies on the river can be assumed to be 4 Mm3.
Estimate the 75% dependable yield at Bantwal.
Page 15 of 22
Answer:
Page 16 of 22
Question 7
The following table shows the observed annual rainfall and the corresponding annual runoff for a
small catchment. Develop the rainfall – runoff correlation equation for this catchment and find the
correlation coefficient. What annual runoff can be expected from this catchment for an annual
rainfall of 100cm?
Answer:
Page 17 of 22
Page 18 of 22
References
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