Regresar

A design-discharge calculation method based on the parallel use of reservoir models

Abstract:

The discharge pattern of river basins is normally composed of groundwater flow, natural surface run-off, and urban run-off. Because traditional surface run-off hydrology can only be applied to a limited extent, various methods of calculation were applied to three Belgian watersheds in order to select the most appropriate estimation procedure. The parallel reservoir model offered the best approach to the discharge patterns observed. For the watershed of the Bellebeek, which exhibits an undulating relief, loamy soils, and scattered, surrounding urbanization, the parallel cascade model of linear reservoirs for natural surface run-off and urban run-off was superior to other methods. In the flat and sandy watersheds of the Wamp and the Grote Kaliebeek, two Kraijenhoff van de Leur reservoirs for fast and slow groundwater drainage yielded a reasonably accurate approximation in comparison to the semi-log probability distribution of the discharge data and the empirical drainage norms. Based on these results, the Kraijenhoff van de Leur reservoir for groundwater drainage and the cascade model of linear reservoirs for surface run-off were selected. Both of these were able to produce parallel synthetic unit-hydrographs adapted to each contributing area of the catchment. © 1982.