Water and Environmental

Engineering:
Water Resources

Dr John Williams
PO2.62
X2404

Personal Introduction

1988 - 1993: PhD Student Dept of Civil

Engineering, Portsmouth
Polytechnic/University
Post Doc 1993 -1996
Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer / Principal
Lecturer
Reader in Environmental Technology
BSc, PhD, MCIWEM, CWEM, CEnv, FHEA
Research:

waste water treatment

reed beds,
sustainable drainage,
pharmacuticals in waste water and sludges,
sustainability appraisal

SCES Research Cordinator

17 PhD Completions

JBW Lectures and Tutorials

1: Introduction to Hydrology
2: Water Quality
3: Water and Wastewater Treatment

Water Engineering

Quantity
Water Supply
Flood Control
Bridge Design
Navigation/Ports

Quality
Pollution Control
Drinking Water
Wastewater Treatment

Dilution
Abstraction
Runoff

Lecture

Consider Hydrologic Cycle

Fate of Rain
Runoff
River flow

Hydrologic Cycle

Reservoir

% of
total

Exchange Rate
(y)

Oceans

97.09

3000

Icecaps and glaciers

1.99

8000

Groundwater

0.62

5000

Atmosphere

0.29

0.027

Lakes/inland seas

0.015

Soil moisture

0.004

Rivers

0.0001

0.031

Condensation/Thunderstorm

Cool Air

Precipiation
Air is heated and rises

Ground

Convective

Wetter on Windward
Wind
Cool Air
Condensation
Drier on Leeward
Precipiation

Warm Air

Mountain

Orthographic

Condensation/Thunderstorm
Cold Front

Precipiation
Warm Air forced to
Rise Abruptly

Cold Air
Ground
Heavy Short Precipitation
Warm Front

Precipiation

Warm Air Rises

Cyclonic

Cold Air
Ground
Light Long Precipitation

12.7cm

8 day chart

30.5cm

Balance

Weighing Gauge
8 day chart

Float
UK Standard Gauge

Float Gauge

Areal Analysis
Number of gauges
needed related to
variability
Small mountanous islands
(25km2)
Plains/deserts (15,000
100,000 km2)
UK 60km2

Total volume of rain fallen

Depth x area
Mean
Weighted Mean
Thiessen Polygons
Isohyetal

Gauges

Polygon for Gauge A

Fate of Rain
Surface Pool
Evaporate
Infiltrate across soil
surface
Soil Moisture
Groundwater

Runoff
Development can
affect balance

fo

fc
t

f = fc + (fo -fc)e -kt

f = infiltration rate (mm/h)
fc = final infiltration rate
fo = initial rate
k = empirical constant
t = time (h)

Plan View of Channel

Width, b

Velocity Distribution
Across Channel

River Flow
Vertical Section

Depth, y

Mean Flow at 0.6y

Velocity Distribution with Depth

e.g. Mean Area Method

bi-1

yi-1

River

bi

yi

= flow measurement

Strip

( vi 1 vi ) ( y yi )
Q
( bi bi 1)
i 1
2
2
n

i 1

Vertical Section

Depth, y2
Depth, y

For any given flow the energy of the river is a component of the depth and the velocity.
This energy can change depending on the nature of the flow.
There is however a depth at which the kinetic and gravitational energy are at a minimum;
this depth is known as the critical depth.
The energy of a river is represented by the dimensionless Froude number, defined as:

If;
Fr
Fr
Fr
v1

<1
=1
>1

y1

Flow is slow and tranquil; Sub-critical

Energy is at a minimum; Critical
Flow is fast or shooting; Super-critical

vc
yc

v2
y2

Critical Flow

Types of Flumes and Weirs

Flumes: narrowing of channel

causes critical conditions;
good for small streams and
sediment,
Q = K b H 3/2
b=throat width, K=coefficient

Sharp Crested Weir: good for

clean water in small streams or
narrow man made channels
Rectangular V notch
Q = K b H3/2 Q= K tan(/2) H5/2
= angle of notch (usually 45 or
90 deg)

 Broad Crested critical

conditions over weir surface,
easy to construct
Q = K b H3/2
Crump (1952) Triangular profile;
1:2 upstream 1:5 downstream.
Similar flow pattern over range
of discharges. Controlled jump,
high modular range. 21% of UK
weirs
Flat V Modification of crump to
give more accurate measure of
low flow and allow sediment to
pass, 1:2 side slopes. 13% of
UK

Hut

8 day chart recorder

Float

Stilling Well

RIVER
Conduit

H (m)

Q (m3/s)

Rating Curve

EA Gauging Network and Data

Hydrographs
Plots of discharge against time
Reveal the nature of the river
Flashy
Reliable
Q

Storm Hydrographs
Effective Rain
i, mm/hr
t
LAG
Q m3/s

Rising Limb

Runoff
Recession Curve

Baseflow (ground water)

t
Hydrograph of i (mm/h) effective rain over time (t)

Base Flow Separation by Log plot of Curve of Recession

Time Unit Hydrograph

Special hydrograph proposed in 1932 by
Sherman
1 Unit of effective rain falling over 1 Unit of
time
Can be used as a model for stream flow
from all rainfall events
Derived from historical records

1
1

1
1

continious rain
S-CURVE

Traditional Urban Water Engineering

Culverts, Channels,
Combined Sewers,
Storm Sewers
Get flood water as
quickly as possible to
a river !
Hidden - Controlled
Separation of people
from aquatic
environment.
Salmon Brook !

Hydrographs

(Butler & Davis, 2004)

Separate Sewers

(Butler & Davis, 2004)

Problems
Flooding increased runoff
quantity and speed risks to
property and life
Pollution runoff from roads and
streets metals, hydrocarbons,
organics + CSOs (e.g. Eastney)
Ecological damage - simplified
habitats and physical damage to
marginal aquatic areas
Reduced amenity less
pleasant urban environments.

Sustainable Drainage
Now required by planning:
Planning Policy Statement 25 for
England on Development and Flooding
Building Regulations: Approved
Document H - Drainage and Waste
Disposal

Design Guidance Available

CIRIA: The SUDS manual (C697)

47

Waterlooville MDA - Newlands

Runoff Event 22/1/10

video

Road Runoff

After Swale

Pond Outflow

River

Tutorial 1: Water Resources

TUH Hydrograph Calculation
Tutorial

Explain how weirs measure flow in rivers (300

words).
Watch Designs that Hold Water Parts 1,2 and
3 on You Tube.
In less than 400 words explain how development can affect
runoff, the problems with traditional drainage and the
advantages of SUDS.