is a technique used to predict the changes in shape

of a hydrograph as water moves through a river channel or

a reservoir.

Routing also can be used to predict the hydrograph shape

(and thus lowland flooding potential) subsequent to multiple
rainfall events in different sub-catchments of the watershed.
• Timing and duration of the rainfall events, as well as factors
such as antecedent moisture conditions, overall watershed
shape, along with subcatchment-area shapes, land slopes
(topography/physiography), geology/hydrogeology (i.e. forests
and aquifers can serve as giant sponges that absorb rainfall
and slowly release it over subsequent weeks and months), and
stream-reach lengths all play a role here
In reservoir routing, which is also occasionally referred to as
lumped routing, the effect of a flood wave entering a reservoir
is studied
This form of reservoir routing is essential in:

–the design of the capacity of spillways and other reservoir outlet

and structures
- the location and sizing of the capacity of reservoirs to meet specific
requirements
A = the volume of
water that fills
available storage
up to time t1
C = volume of
water that flows
out of the
reservoir and
MUST EQUAL area
A if the reservoir
begin and ends at
the same level
 Inflow I Outflow O
System with Storage S

From the conversation of mass, water balance in figure for a

system can be expressed as :
 I – Q = Δ𝑆/Δ𝑡

•Where;
I = upstream inflow
Q = downstream outflow
ΔS = change in storage
Δt = change in time Δ𝑆
• Mathematically, ΔS can be computed using continuity equation
• •Δ𝑆/Δ𝑡=𝐼−𝑄
• •Δ𝑆=𝐼−𝑄𝑑𝑡
• •𝑆= 𝐼−𝑄𝑑𝑡 21
• •𝑺= (𝒊𝑰 −𝑸 )Δ𝒕 … 𝐼 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑄 = average of each day
• •Inflow and outflow hydrograph for a reservoir are depicted in next
Figure
• a)Determine the average storage for each one-day period per 1 acre
(Δt = 1 day).
• b)Plot the graph storage vs time for the reservoir for the event.
Assume that S0 = 0 (the reservoir is initially empty)
• c)What is the (approximate) maximum storage reached during this
storm event?
• Reservoir Routing - Hydrologic Routing - Modified Pul’s Method
• A flood wave I(t) enters a reservoir provided with an outlet such as a
spillway.
• The outflow, Q is function to the reservoir elevation (h) only – Q=f(h)
• The storage in the reservoir is a function of the reservoir elevation – S
= f(h)
• The water level in the reservoir changes with time – h =f(t), Storage
and discharge also change with time.
• For reservoir routing, the following data have to be KNOWN. Graphs
or tables showing – Storage volume vs elevation for the reservoir –
Storage vs outflow discharge – Inflow hydrograph, I = f(t); and – Initial
values of S, I and Q at time=0
• Modified Pul’s Method Equation 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 2 ∆𝑡 + 𝑆 − 𝑄1∆𝑡 2 = 𝑆 + 𝑄2∆𝑡
2
•
• At the end of the time step is CALCULATED by Equation
• At the starting of flood routing, initial storage and outflow discharges
are KNOWN
• Reservoir Routing –Pul’s Method
• Rearrangement of equation (2) as
• All terms on the left hand side are known.
• At the starting of the routing
• known-At the starting of the routing RHS is a function of elevation
h for a chosen time interval main channel main channel
• Preparation of graphs for h vs Q, h vs S and h versus 2 Qt S
• Reservoir in m Reservoir in m
• Procedure is repeated for full inflow hydrograph
• Reservoir Routing –Goodrich Method
• Rearranged equation is (2)
• Preparation of graphs for h vs Q, and h vs S and h versus #Flow
routing through time interval ∆t, all terms on the LHS and hence RHS
are knownLHS and hence RHS are known
• Value of outflow Q for can be read from the graph
• main channel main channel Value of calculated by
-for next time interval
• Reservoir in m Reservoir in m for next time interval Repetition of
computations for subsequent routing periods
•Where;
–I = upstream inflow
–Q = downstream outflow
–ΔS = change in storage
–Δt = change in time