WATER RESOURCES

ENGINEERING
Engr. Ricardo L. Fornis

Final Grade Computation

Sources of points for grading
Exam 1 (E1)
Exam 2 (E2)
Exam 3 (E3)
Projects (group projects)
Seatworks and Homeworks
FS 20%(E1) 20%(E 2) 20%(E3) 30%(Project) 10%(SW & HW )
Final Score (FS)

Final Grade

95% 100%

1.0

94%

1.1

75%

3.0

References
1)

2)

3)

4)

5)
6)

Water-Resources Engineering by David Chin 3rd Edition

Water Resources Engineering by Linsley, Franzini,
Freyberg, and Tchobanoglous, 4th Edition
Hydrologic Analysis and Design, McCuen, 1989,
Prentice Hall
Urban Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Stormwater Quality
by Akan and Houghtalen, John Wiley & Sons
Elementary Hydraulics by Cruise, Sherif, and Singh
Water Code of the Philippines and the Amended
Implementing Rules and Regulations by National
Water Resources Board (PDF)

What is Water Resources Engineering?

Water resources engineering is the profession that focuses on

Planning, Development, and Management of water resources.
The following tasks/skills are expected of a Water Resources
Engineer
Estimate the future population of a community
Locate one or more sources of water of acceptable quality
Determine volume of storage of water, and design water
works required to deliver the water from the source to the
service area which is the community.
Determine the physical, chemical, and biological
characteristics of the water and establish water quality
requirement.

Why water resources engineering?

Waters are available in different sources

Precipitation
Rivers , Lakes, Oceans
Springs
Groundwater, etc

Water is not always readily available in matching

the demand in terms of quantity and quality
Water source identification and development
Extraction
Storage
Treatment

Why water resources engineering?

Water sources are, in many cases, far from the

consumers

Conveyance and Distribution

Water resource is finite

Proper Management

Fields of water resources engineering

Under the category Control and Regulation of

water so that it will not cause excessive damage to
property, inconvenience to the public, damage to
the environment, or loss of life the following
applications can be identified:
Planning,

design, and implementation of Flood Control

measures and Mitigation
Design of Drainage systems
Design of wastewater treatment facilities

Fields of water resources engineering

Under the category Utilization of water for

beneficial purposes the following applications can
be identified
Planning

and design of Water Supply Systems

(Domestic, Municipal, industrial)
Water resources development for irrigation,
Hydropower, Fisheries, Navigation, and
Entertainment(Sports, Decoration, Water parks)

Fields of water resources engineering

Under the category Water Quality Management

the following applications can be identified
Water

Sources Protection
Regulations on wastewater treatment
Regulations on disposal of wastewater

Some points related to water resources engineering

THE WATER CODE OF THE

PHILIPPINES

Water Code of the Philippines

The Water Code of the Philippines was instituted

by Presidential Decree No. 1067 enacted in 1976
by the Late President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
National Water Resources Board (NWRB) is vested
as the body to administer and enforce the
provisions of the water code.
Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) a water district
in Metro Cebu deputized by NWRB to conduct
inspections and make recommendations on issuance
of water permits

The Institution of NWRB as Resource Regulator

In 1976, Presidential Decree No. 1067, otherwise

known as the Water Code of the Philippines was
enacted. Based on the principles that: (a) all water
belongs to the State; and (b) the State may allow
the use or development of its waters by administrative
concession, the NWRB was instituted as a water
resource regulator tasked to regulate and control the
utilization, exploitation, development, conservation
and protection of all water resources.

The specific functions of the NWRB, as a "Water

Resource Regulator

The following are the specific functions of the NWRB, as a

"Water Resource Regulator",
(a)

the issuance water permits for the

appropriation, and use of waters; and
(b) adjudication of disputes relating to the
appropriation, utilization, exploitation,
development, control and conservation, and
protection of waters.

Ownership of Water in the Philippines

Chapter ll Art. 5 of the Water Code of the Philippines

states that the following waters belong to the State
Rivers and their natural beds;
Continuous or intermittent waters of springs and brooks
running in their natural beds and the beds themselves;
Natural lakes and lagoons;
All other categories of surface waters such as water flowing
over lands, water from rainfall whether natural or artificial,
and water from agricultural runoff, seepage and drainage;
Atmospheric water
Subterranean or ground waters; and,
Seawater

Ownership of Water in the Philippines

Chapter ll Art. 6 states that the following waters found on

private lands also belongs to the State

Continuous or intermittent waters rising on such lands

Lakes and lagoons naturally occurring on such lands;
Rain water falling on such lands;
Subterranean or ground waters; and
Waters in swamps and marshes.

The owner of the land where the water is found may use
the same for domestic purposes without securing a permit,
provided that such use shall be registered, when required
by the council. The Council, however, may regulate such use
when there is wastage, or in times of emergency.

Ownership of Water in the Philippines

Art. 7 of The Water Code of the Philippines
provides that
any person who captures or collects water by means
of cisterns, tanks, or pools shall have exclusive control
over such water and the right to dispose the same.

Appropriation of Waters

Art. 9 of The Water Code of the Philippines defines Appropriation of

waters as the acquisition of rights over the use of waters or the taking or
diverting of waters from the natural source in the manner and for any
purpose allowed by law.
Art. 10 of The Water Code of the Philippines states the purposes by which
water may be appropriated

Domestic
Municipal
Irrigation
Power Generation
Fisheries
Livestock raising
Industrial
Recreational
Other purposes

Utilization of water
Domestic purposes
Utilization of water for domestic purposes is the utilization of water
directly drawn from a source by a household for drinking, washing,
bathing, cooking, watering of gardens or animals and other
domestic uses.

Municipal purposes

Utilization of water for municipal purposes is the utilization of

water for supplying the water requirements of the community,
whether by pipe or bulk distribution for domestic and other uses,
direct consumption, the drawer or abstractor of which being the
national government, its subsidiary agencies, local government
units, private persons, cooperatives or corporations.

Utilization of water

Irrigation purposes

Water for Power generation

Utilization of water for producing electrical or mechanical power

Water for Fisheries

Utilization of water for producing crops

Utilization of water for propagation and culture of fish as a

commercial enterprise.

Water for Livestock Raising

Utilization of water for large herds or flocks of animals raised as

a commercial enterprise

Utilization of water

Water for industrial Purposes

Utilization of water in the factories, industrial plants and

mines, including the use of water as an ingredient of the
finished product.

Water for recreational purposes

Utilization of water for swimming pools, bath houses,

boating, water skiing, golf courses and other similar facilities
in resorts and other places or recreation.

Water Permit

Chapter lll Art.13 states that no person, including

instrumentalities or government-owned or controlled
corporations, shall appropriate water without a
water right, which shall be evidenced by a
document known as Water Permit
Water Right is the privilege granted by government
to appropriate and use water.

Article 50

Lower estates are obliged to receive the waters

which naturally and without the intervention of the
man flow from the higher estates, as well as stone
or earth which they carry with them.
The owner of the lower estate can not construct
works which will impede this natural flow, unless he
provides an alternative method of drainage;
neither can the owner of the higher estate make
works which will increase this natural flow.

PRECIPITATION AND
RUNOFF
Engr. Ricardo L Fornis

The Hydrologic Cycle

Precipitation
Transpiration

Interception

Infiltration

Overland flow

Detention

Evaporation

Subsurface flow
Percolation

QWT

Seepage
Runoff

THE RATIONAL METHOD

Calculation of peak runoff

The Rational Formula

Rationale
The

peak runoff at the outlet of the watershed due a

steady rainfall is obtained when the entire basin is
contributing runoff at the outlet.

Time of Concentration
The

time of travel of the water from the most remote

part hydraulically of the catchment to the outlet of that
catchment.

The rational formula

Q CiA
3

Q is discharge (ft /sec)

i is rainfall intensity (in/hr)
A is catchment area (acres)
CiA
Q
3600000
3
Q is discharge (m /sec)
i is rainfall intensity (mm/hr)
A is catchment area (m 2 )

Assumptions of the rational formula

The rain is uniform all throughout the entire

drainage basin.
The entire drainage basin has contributed to the
runoff at the outlet which means that the rain has
duration equal to or longer than the time of
concentration.
The runoff coefficient C takes care all the losses in
the drainage basin.

Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curves
The rainfall intensity to be used in the
rational formula depends on the return
period of the event to be considered in
the design of the system. The rainfall
intensity is obtained from the
established IDF using a duration equal
to the time of concentration.

Time of Concentration Formulas

Kinematic Wave and Manning equation (ASCE, 1992)
0.6

6.99 nL
tc 0.4

ie so
tc =time of concentration in minutes
i e = rainfall excess in mm/hr
L =distance from the catchment boundary to the outlet in meters
n= Manning roughness coefficient
s o = is ground slope

Time of Concentration Formulas

Kirpich equation
L0.77
tc 0.0194 0.385
so

tc = time of concentration in minutes

L = channel length in meters
s o = (dimensionless) average slope along the flow path
Small agricultural watershed (less than 80 ha)
Slope range 3%-10%

Kirpich Equation if L is in feet

Kirpich equation if L is in meters is expressed as
L0.77
tc 0.0194 0.385 Eq(1)
so

If the length L is in feet, then convert it to meters

and plug in the result to Eq(1), that is,
1
1m
tc 0.0194 0.385 L( ft )

3.28 ft
so

0.77

L0.77
tc 0.0078 0.385 This the Kirpich Eq
so

where L is in feet

Time of Concentration
Izzard equation (English units)
Laboratory experiments on pavements and turfs
41.025 0.0007ie cr L1/3
tc
, where i e L 500 in.ft / h
2/3 1/3
ie S
tc in minutes
i e = effective rainfall intensity in in/hr
L = overland flow distance in feet
c r = retardance factor
s o = slope of catchment (dimensionless)

Time of Concentration
Izzard equation
Laboratory experiments on pavements and turfs
tc

526.7 cr 2.756 x105 ie L1/3

ie 2/3 so1/3

, where i e L 3.9 m 2 / h

tc is in minutes
i e = effective rainfall intensity in mm/hr
L = overland flow distance in meters
c r = retardance factor
s o = slope of catchment (dimensionless)

Cr in the Izzard Equation

Surface

Cr

Very smooth asphalt

0.0070

Tar and sand pavement

0.0075

Crushes-slate roof

0.0082

Concrete

0.012

Tar and gravel pavement

0.017

Closely clip sod

0.016

Dense bluegrass

0.060

Kerby-Hathaway
0.467

L*r
tc k
where L 365 m

S
tc = time of concentration in minutes
L= overland flow length
k 0.826 if L is in English System
k 1.439 if L is in SI
r = overland flow retardance coefficient
S = overland flow slope

Values of r in Kerby Equation

Source: Kerby(1959), Westphal(2001), Seybert (2006) in David Chin 3rd Ed

Surface

Smooth Pavements

0.02

Asphalt/Concrete

0.05-0.15

Smooth bare packed soil, free of stones

0.10

Light turf or Poor grass on moderately rough ground

0.20

Cultivated row crops

0.20

Average grass or Pasture

0.40

Dense turf or Dense grass

0.17-0.80

Bermuda Grass

0.30-0.48

Deciduous timberland
Conifer timberland, dense grass
Deciduous timberland (with deep forest litter)

0.60
0.60-0.80
0.80

Federal Aviation Agency FAA

(English units)
1.8 1.1 C L0.5
tc
S 1/3
tc is time of concentration in minutes
L overland flow length feet
C is rational formula runoff coefficient
S is overland flow slope in percent

Federal Aviation Agency FAA (SI units)

3.26 1.1 C L0.5
tc
S 1/3
tc is time of concentration in minutes
L overland flow length m
C is rational formula runoff coefficient
S is overland flow slope in percent

Van Sickle
0.13
0.55 L0.13
L
t
m
tc
0.065
S
tc is time of concentration in minutes

Lt overland flow length feet

L m channel flow length feet
S is overland flow slope

SCS Velocity Method

Travel time can be obtained from the velocity and distance
distance
traveled by using the relation time
velocity
The time of concentration of a drainage basin can be
determined by identifying a flow path and the flow path
is then divided into segments of length Li of uniform slope Si .
The average velocity for each segment is then calculated
R 2/3
by the formula Vi ki Si . The value of k
of the
n
Manning's equation and is called intercept cefficient.

SCS Velocity Method

The time of concentration is obtained by summing up
the travel time for each segment, that is,
m

Li
tc ti
i 1
i 1 Vi
where m number of segemnts
Li length of segment i
Vi average flow velocity in segment i

Values of Intercept Coefficients, k

Source: U.S. Federal Highway Administration in David Chin, 3rd ed. Water
Resources Engineering
Land Cover (Flow Regime)

k(m/s)

Forest with heavy ground litter; hay meadow (overland flow)

0.76

Trash fallow or minimum tillage cultivation; contour or strip

Cropped; woodland (overland flow)

1.52

Short grass pasture (overland flow)

2.13

Cultivated straight row (overland flow)

2.74

Nearly bare and untilled (overland flow)

3.05

Grass waterway (shallow concentrated flow)

4.57

Unpaved (shallow concentrated flow)

4.91

Paved area (shallow overland flow) small upland gullies

6.19

Sample problem 1
Using the following information below, determine the time of
concentration from point A to point E. Using the SCS Velocity method.
Reach

Flow Description

A to B

Overland (average grass)

10

260

B to C

Overland (grass waterway concentrated flow)

250

C to D

Storm sewer n=0.012, diameter is 0.9 m

1.5

450

D to E

Open channel (1.2 m wide, 0.75 m deep, n=0.013)

0.5

580

Slope % Length (m)

D
E

Solution
Travel time for segment AB
L AB 260 m, slope S = 10% , k AB 2.13 m / s (from the table)
VAB k AB S 2.13 0.10 0.67 m / s
t AB

LAB 260

388 s
VAB 0.67

Travel time for segment BC

L BC 250 m, slope S = 3% , k BC 4.57 m / s (from the table)
VBC k BC S 4.57 0.03 0.79m / s
t BC

LBC 250

316 s
VBC 0.79

Solution
Travel Time for segment CD
Culvert diameter 0.90 m, n 0.012, L 450m, slope S 1.5%
1
2/3 1/2
V= R S
n
D 0.9
Assume that the pipe is just flowing full, R=
0.225m
4
4
1
2/3
1/2
V=
0.225 0.015 3.78m / s
0.012
L 450
tCD
119 s
V 3.78

Solution
Segment CD
Length L=580m
Open Chnannel: width =1.2m, depth = 0.75, slope =0.5%, n=0.013
A=1.2(0.75)=0.90 m 2 ; P=1.2+2(0.75)=2.70 m
R=

A 0.9 1

P 2.70 3

0.75
2/3

1 2/3 1/2
1 1
1/2
R S
0.005
2.61 m / s

n
0.013 3
L 580
travel time t DE
222sec
V 2.61
Time of concentration tc=t AB t BC tCD t DE

tc 388 316 119 222 1045sec or 17.42 min

1.20

Sample problem 2

A residential catchment has an area of 1.2 sq km. The

distance from A, which is the catchment boundary, to the
outlet B is 900 m and the average ground slope is 3%. At the
catchment location the 10-year storm has the intensity
duration frequency relation as indicated in eq i. The surface
cover is concrete(n=0.014) and the effective rainfall may be
estimated as 85% of the rainfall intensity from the IDF.
Estimate the time of concentration using a) Kinematic
wave equation, b) Izzard equation, c) FAA, and d) Kerby
equation

For a 10-yr storm: i 335.82 60.95ln(t ) Eq i

where t is the duration in minutes

Solution

Using the Kinematic Wave Equation

0.6

6.99 nL
tc 0.4

ie S0
1st iteration: Try tc 10 min
i 335.82 60.95ln(10) 195.48 mm/ h
ie 0.85 195.48 166.16 mm/h
6.99 0.014(900)
tc

166.160.4
0.03
adjust the trial value of t c .

0.6

11.84 min 10 min

Solution

Using the Kinematic Wave Equation

0.6

6.99 nL
tc 0.4

ie S0
2nd iteration: Try tc 12 min
i 335.82 60.95ln(12) 184.36 mm/ h
ie 0.85 184.36 156.71 mm/h
0.014(900)

0.03

Use tc 12 min

6.99
tc
156.710.4

0.6

12.12 min 12 min

Using Izzard Formula

tc

526.7 cr 2.756 x105 ie L1/3

ie 2/3 so1/3

, where i e L 3.9 m 2 / h

Try tc = 12 min
i 335.82 60.95ln(12) 184.36 mm/ h
ie = 0.85 184.36 156.71mm / h
c r = 0.012 for concrete (From the table)
526.7 0.012 2.756 x10 (156.71) 900
5

tc

1/3

156.71 0.03
2/3

tc 9.2 min 12 min, revise

1/3

Using Izzard Formula

tc

526.7 cr 2.756 x105 ie L1/3

ie 2/3 so1/3

Try tc = 8.8 min;

, where i e L 3.9 m 2 / h, where i e L 3.9 m 2 / h

i 335.82 60.95ln(8.8) 203.3mm/ h

ie 0.85(203.3) 172.78mm / h

c r = 0.012 for concrete (From the table)

526.7 0.012 2.756 x105 (172.78) 900
tc
2/3
1/3
172.78 0.03

1/3

Use tc=9min
NOTE: ie L 0.17278(900) 155.5
Izzard Eq is strictly not applicable

3.9m 2 / h

8.84 min

9 min

Using Kerby-Hathaway Equation

0.467

L*r
tc 1.439
where L 365 m

S
Here L=900 m > 365 m, the Kerby Hathaway is not applicable.
Let us see the result if the equation is used:
The value of retardance factor r is between 0.10 to 0.15.
Using r=0.10
900*0.10
tc 1.439

0.03

0.467

26.68 min

Using FAA
3.26 1.1 C L0.5
tc
S 1/3
L=900m; C=0.80 concrete; S=3%
3.26 1.1 0.8 (900) 0.5
tc
20.34 min
1/3
3
FAA is developed from airfield drainage

Runoff Coefficient in the Rational

Formula
The runoff coefficient C in the
Rational formula Q CiA takes into account
the rainfall losses of the drainage basin. Values
given in the following tables reflect the effect of
landuse, soil, and slope on the potential runoff that
can be generated.

Runoff coefficients for use in the rational method

(Schaake, Geyer, and Knapp, 1967 in Haestad, 2003)
Type of Area or Development

Runoff Coefficient C

Types of Surface Areas

Asphalt or Concrete

0.70-0.95

Brick paving

0.70-0.80

Roofs of Buildings

0.80-0.95

Unimproved grassland or pasture

0.10-0.30

Grass-covered sandy soils

Slopes 2% or less

0.05-0.10

Slope 2% to 8%

0.10-0.16

Slopes over 8%

0.16-0.20

Runoff coefficients for use in the rational method

(Schaake, Geyer, and Knapp, 1967 in Haestad, 2003)
Type of Area or Development

Runoff Coefficient
C

Grass-covered clay soils

Slopes 2% or less

0.10-0.16

Slope 2% to 8%

0.17-0.25

Slopes over 8%

0.26-0.36

Types of Development
Urban Business

0.70-0.95

Commercial Office

0.50-0.70

Residential Development
Single Family Homes

0.30-0.50

Condominiums

0.40-0.60

Apartments

0.60-0.80

Suburban residential

0.25-0.40

Composite runoff coefficient

If the drainage basin consists of regions with
different runoff coefficients, it is advisable to
divide basins into subbasins of the same runoff
coefficient and the composite runoff coefficient
can be obtained by weighting, using the corresponding
area of the subbasins as weights, that is,
Cc

cA

A
i

where
ci =curve number for subbasin i
A i =size of subbasin i

Example
A drainage basin consists of an area that has mixed land uses scattered throughout
the entire basin( see table below). a) Calculate the composite runoff coefficient, b)
assuming that the time of concentration is 15 minutes, calculate the peak runoff due
to a rainfall event of 10-year return period using the IDF curve
i10=6879.9/(t1.02+36.74) where I is in mm/hr and t is in minutes.
Land use

Area
(hectares)

Runoff
Coefficient C

Streets

0.85

Roofs of buildings

0.90

Open Space for parking and play grounds

0.25

Forest

10

0.15

Solution
a) Composite runoff coefficient
Cc

cA

A
i

5 0.85 8 0.90 6 0.25 10 0.15

0.498 0.5
5 8 6 10
CiA
b) Peak runoff : Q
(1000)(3600)
where Q is in cum/s, i is in mm/hr, and A is in sq.m.
Cc

C Cc 0.5
i i10

6879.9
6879.9

130.86 mm / hr
1.02
1.02
t 36.74 15 36.74

0.5 130.86 29*10000

Q
5.27 cu.m / s
(1000)(3600)

Seatwork
The schematic diagram of a drainage basin which is divided into three subbasins is
shown in the following figure. Calculate the peak discharge at the outlet (point 3) for a
rainfall event that has a return period of 10 years. Use IDF curve expressed as
i10=6879.9/(t1.02+36.74)
Aa=3ha
Ca=0.15
tcon=12min

Ab=5ha
Cb=0.5
tcon=10min

inlet

Ac=4ha
Cc=0.70
tcon=6min

inlet

L=200m
T1-2=3min

inlet

L=250m
T2-3=4min

Outlet of
3 the basin

SCS RAINFALL-RUNOFF DEPTH

RELATION
R. Fornis

NCRS Curve Number (formally named Soil

Conservation System (SCS) Curve Number)
The NCRS Model (SCS-CN)
is expressed as

F
Q

S P Ia

where
F portion of rainfall that reach the

Q
Ia

ground and retained by the catchment

Q direct runoff
S potential retention
P precipitation
I a initial abstraction

F
time

NCRS Curve Number (formally named Soil

Conservation System (SCS) Curve Number)
As can be seen in the diagram, the retention, F,
can be obtained as

F P Ia Q

Empirical data indicate that

initial abstraction, Ia , can

Ia

be expressed as a certain percentage

of the maximum retention, S, and
commonly expressed as
I a 0.2 S

F
time

NCRS Curve Number (formally named Soil

Conservation System (SCS) Curve Number)
F
Q

S P Ia
using the expression F ( P I a ) Q
we obtain

(P Ia ) Q
Q

S
P Ia

P Ia

Q
P Ia S

P
Q

and

Using I a 0.2 S , we can have

P 0.2 S

Q
P 0.8S

Ia

F
time

Determination of S using
Curve number, CN
25400
S
254 where S is in mm
CN
1000
S
10 where S is in inches
CN
CN is curve number which is a function of
three (3) factors:
Soil group (Groups A, B,C, and D),
cover complex, and
antecedent moisture conditions

Soil group classification

Group A: Deep sand; deep loess; aggregated silts

Group B: Shallow loess; sandy loam
Group C: Clay loams; Shallow sandy loam; soils low in
organic content; soils usually high in clay
Group D: Solis that swell significantly when wet; heavy
plastic clays; certain saline soils

SCS soil group can be identified using

one of the three ways

1) Soil characteristics
2) Country Soil surveys
3) minimum infiltration rate
Group
A
B
C
D

Minimum Infiltration
rate (mm/hour)
7.5 -11.4
3.8 - 7.5
1.3 - 3.8
0 - 1.3

Runoff curve numbers

(Average watershed condition, Ia=0.2S)
CN for Hydrologic Soil Group

Land Use Classification

Developing Urban Areas (No vegetation

established) Newly graded

77

86

91

94

* Good Condition; grass cover on 75% or

more of the area

39

61

74

80

*Fair Condition; grass cover up to 50% to

75% of the area

49

69

79

84

Poor Condition; grass cover

68

79

86

89

Fully Developed Urban Areas (vegetation

established)
Lawns, Open Spaces, Parks, Golf courses,
cemeteries, etc.

Runoff curve numbers

(Average watershed condition, Ia=0.2S)
CN for Hydrologic Soil Group

Land Use Classification

Paved Parking lots, roofs, driveways, etc.

98

98

98

98

* Paved with curbs and storm sewers

98

98

98

98

* Gravel

76

85

89

91

* Dirt

72

82

87

89

* Paved with open ditches

83

89

92

93

Streets and Roads

Runoff curve numbers

(Average watershed condition, Ia=0.2S)
CN for Hydrologic Soil Group

Land Use Classification

Average %
Impervious

Commercial and Business

Centers

85

89

92

94

95

Industrial Districts

72

81

88

91

93

Row Houses, Town houses, and

residential lot sizes 500 sq m
or less

65

77

85

90

92

Runoff curve numbers

(Average watershed condition, Ia=0.2S)
CN for Hydrologic Soil Group
A

Land Use Classification

Residential:
Average lot size

Average %
Impervious

1000 sq m.

38

61

75

83

87

1350 sq m

30

57

72

81

86

2000 sq m

25

54

70

80

85

4050 sq m

20

51

68

79

84

8100 sq m

12

46

65

77

82

Note : More values of CN can be found in the book by Mc Cuen (2008)

Estimation of CN Values for Urban Land Uses

Some CN values given in the table have been based on
certain percent of imperviousness. To obtain the
curve number for other percent of imperviousness the
relation given by Mc Cuen (1989), can be used.
CN w CN p (1- f ) f (98)
where
CN P are 39, 61, 74, and 80 for soil A, B, C, and D, respectively
f the fraction of imperviousness

Example
Problem
Find the curve number for commercial and business area
which is 70% impervious knowing that the soil has an
average infiltration rate of 6 mm/h.
Solution
The soil belongs to Hydrologic Group B
(infiltration rate 3.8-7.6 mm/h)
The value of CNp=61 for soil B
Adjusted CN: CN w CN p (1 f ) f (98)
CN w 61(1 0.70) (0.70)(98) 86.9

Adjustment of CN for antecedent soil moisture

condition
Antecedent soil moisture condition can affect the rate and volume of runoff. The values
indicated in the previous tables are based on the average condition. McCuen (1989)
provided seasonal rainfall limits for the three antecedent soil moisture conditions as
presented below. The CN values can be adjusted using the Adjustment of Curve Number
tables.
Total 5-day Antecedent Rainfall (mm)

Antecedent
Moisture Content

Dormant Season Growing Season

Less than 12.7

Less than 35.6

II

12.7-27.9

35.6-53.3

III

Over 27.9

Over 53.3

Adjustment of Curve Numbers due to AMC

CN for
Condition II

Corresponding CN
Condition 1

Condition III

100

100

100

95

87

90

CN for
Condition II

Corresponding CN
Condition 1

Condition III

50

31

70

99

45

27

65

78

98

40

23

60

85

70

97

35

19

55

80

63

94

30

15

50

75

57

91

25

12

45

70

51

87

20

39

65

45

83

15

33

60

40

79

10

26

55

35

75

17

Sample Problem (Similar to example 9.18 of Chin, 2013)

An engineer is to design a drainage facilities of a catchment

for a rainfall event with a return period of 50 years and a
duration of 1 h. The IDF for 50-year storm is given by the
equation below. Infiltration test has indicated that minimum
infiltration rate is at 5mm/h. The area being developed is
mostly open space with less than 50% grass cover. Estimate the
total amount of runoff (in mm) using the SCS-CN method.
i

5840.46

t 29.26

0.95

Solution
i

5840.46

t 29.26

0.95

5840.46

60 29.26

0.95

i 81.9 mm/hour
Soil is classified as poor condition: Grass cover less than 50%
Soil is Class B infiltration is 5 mm/h, Use CN=79
25400
25400
S
254
254
CN
79
S 67.5

P 0.2S
81.9 0.2(67.5)

P 0.8S
81.9 0.8(67.9)
Q 34.3 mm
2

Solution
P 0.2 S
81.9 0.2(67.5)

P 0.8S
81.9 0.8(67.9)
Q 34.3 mm
2

This is the amount of runoff in terms of depth

spread uniformly over the entire watershed.