Home
Back
Equilibrium Discharge Formula:
| From: | To: |
Equilibrium Discharge is the steady flow rate that a well can sustain from an aquifer over an extended period without causing significant drawdown or depletion of the aquifer. It represents the maximum sustainable extraction rate from a groundwater source.
The calculator uses the Equilibrium Discharge formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the steady discharge rate based on the catchment area and the time during which excess rainfall occurs, scaled by a factor of 10,000 for unit conversion.
Details: Accurate equilibrium discharge calculation is crucial for sustainable water resource management, determining safe extraction rates from aquifers, and preventing over-exploitation of groundwater resources.
Tips: Enter the catchment area in square kilometers and excess rainfall time in seconds. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What is the significance of the 10⁴ factor in the formula?
A: The 10⁴ factor is used for unit conversion, transforming the result from km²/s to the standard m³/s units for discharge measurements.
Q2: How is catchment area defined in this context?
A: Catchment area refers to the geographical area from which water flows into a particular point, such as a well, stream, or reservoir.
Q3: What constitutes excess rainfall time?
A: Excess rainfall time is the portion of rainfall that exceeds the capacity of the soil to retain it through infiltration, representing the duration of effective runoff.
Q4: What are typical values for equilibrium discharge?
A: Equilibrium discharge values vary widely depending on geological conditions, but typically range from fractions to tens of cubic meters per second for most aquifers.
Q5: Are there limitations to this calculation method?
A: This method provides an estimate and may need adjustment for specific geological conditions, aquifer characteristics, and local hydrological factors.