Tribhuvan University

Institute of Engineering
Engineering Hydrology (3 cr. hr.)
(Bachelor of Civil Engineering, CE 606)
Chapter 1 (2 hrs)
Hari Krishna Shrestha
[email protected]
9851006010
 1.1 Definition and Uses of Engineering Hydrology

• Hydrology is the science of water which deals with its

occurrence on earth, its circulation and distribution, its
properties, and their reaction with their environment.

• Engineering Hydrology deals with aspects of planning,

design, and operation of water related projects, like
infrastructure development, environment management
and disaster risk management. The National Water Plan
and Water Resources Strategy of Nepal are prepared based
on inputs from engineering hydrology. Engineering
hydrologists are employed in different infrastructures
development projects, environment management projects,
disaster risk management projects and settlements of
international water disputes.
 Scope of Engineering Hydrology
• The engineering hydrology deals with fluctuation in river flow, occurrence of
extreme events like flood and heavy rainfall, groundwater recharge and
discharge, and quantum and quality of available water various purposes. The
specific scope of engineering hydrology is:
Infrastructure Projects:
• road, bridge, culvert, side drain and cross drain design, causeway, cooling pond
• water supply and water quality,
• irrigation, agriculture and horticulture (surface & groundwater based),
• hydropower,
• urban drainage/sewer design, industrial &municipal liquid waste management
• domestic and industrial water management,
• water/waste-water management in airports and hospitals
• rainwater harvesting
• river navigation
• fishery and animal husbandry farms
• water parks, theme parks, ski resorts
Ex.: the hydrological factors needed for bridge design: peak flow of 100-year return period,
construction period flood, high flood level, top-width of river during flood, waterway width,
scour depth, free board, afflux, abutment length, location/size of river training structures.
Scope continued…

Environment Management
• environmental impact assessment (EIA/ESIA/CIA)
• initial environmental examination (IEE)
• ecological water needs and biodiversity maintenance
• e-flows
• fish ladder
• soil conservation and watershed management
• integrated water resources management
• forestry and silviculture

Socio-Cultural Water Management

• Religious water needs (access to holy water for daily rituals)
• Water needs for various celebrations / religions occasions
• River ghats
• Livelihood: agriculture/FMIS, local fishermen, local boat operators (to cross
rivers), local washer men, rafting industry, canoeing, kayaking
• Water Sports: speed boat, rowing, canoe racing, snorkeling, parasailing
• Water needs for death rituals
Scope continued…
Disaster Risk Management
• flood control: embankments, dyke, spur, tanks, check dams, diversion
• landslide disaster mitigation, drought risk management,
• rainwater harvesting,
• water quality,
• Surface water and groundwater pollution control
• ecological flow and biodiversity maintenance
• climate change disaster management
• GLOF/LDOF and Climate disasters
• Weather/Storm/tornado/hurricane, cyclone forecast (now cast), warning
Provincial, Federal, and International Water Management
• Inter-province river management & groundwater basin management
• International river management and groundwater basin management
• management of water quality in inter-province/international rivers
• inter-province/international water based conflict/dispute management
Discuss the application of engineering hydrology in (a) infrastructure project, (b) better
environmental management, (c) disaster risk management and (d) reducing conflict related
to water access issues.
 1.2 Hydrologic Cycle and Water Balance Equations

Hydrologic Cycle is a representation of a continuous

process of transportation and storage of water in various
forms on earth. The major components of the hydrologic
cycle are:
• Evaporation (from ocean, land surface, air, water bodies)
• Condensation (cloud formation)
• Precipitation
• Evapotranspiration (ET)
• Interception
• Infiltration and percolation
• Groundwater flow and storage
• Surface runoff and storage
Write short note on hydrological cycle.
Which components of the hydrological cycle is highly affected by the construction of a large
reservoir?
Regmi, A.R., 2007
 Water (Mass) Balance Equations
Mass inflow – Mass outflow = change in storage
P – R – G – E – T = DS
• P = precipitation
• R = surface runoff
• G = net groundwater flow out of the catchment
• E = evaporation
• T = transpiration
• S = storage = Ss + Ssm + Sg
• Ss = surface water storage
• Ssm = soil moisture storage
• Sg = groundwater storage
In terms of Rainfall runoff relation:
R=P–L
• L = losses (water unavailable for runoff due to infiltration)
 Two numerical examples on water balance: Lake Fewa (area 5.7 km2) with a free
surface elevation on 1st January was 743.2 mamsl. Average inflow to Fewa from
Harpan Khola, average outflow Fewa dam, rainfall in Dam Site and evaporation
from Lake Fewa in January were 6 m3/s, 6.5 m3/s, 145 mm, and 6.1 cm,
respectively. Write the water balance equation for Fewa and estimate free water
surface of the lake on 31st January. (adapted from Subramanya Ex. 1.1)
Water Balance equation: inflow volume – outflow volume = change in storage
(I Dt + P A) – (Q Dt _ E A) = DS
I = average inflow rate (m3/s), P = precipitation depth (cm), Q = average outflow rate (m3/s),
E = evaporation depth (cm), A = surface area (km2), S = storage (m3), t = time (month)
Inflow rate = 6 m3/s Outflow rate = 6.1 m3/s Lake area = 5.7 km2 5700000 m2
Dt = 2678400 s rainfall depth = 210 mm 0.21 m Jan 1st Elev = 743.2 m
Inflow Vol = 16070400 m3 Evap. Depth = 4.1 cm 0.041 m
3
Outflow Vol = 16338240 m Pptn Input Vol = 1197000 m 3 Evap. Vol = 233700 m3
Storage Change = 695460 m3 Change in Elev = 0.12201 m Jan 31st Elev = 743.3 m

Given the basin area, rainfall, groundwater recharge, runoff, and ET of a day, calculate the change in storage.
basin area (A) = 67 km2 67000000 m2
On a particular day in the catchment:
Precipitation (P) = 11 mm 0.011 m 737000 m3
Groundwater Recharge (G) = 10 m3 10 m3
River Runoff (R) = 1099 lps 1.099 m3/s 94953.6 m3 0.001417 m
ET (E) = 0.9 mm 0.0009 m 60300 m3
ΔS = ? in m3 ΔS = (P + G) - (R + E) = 581756.4 m3 0.008683 m
8.683 mm 6.733 m3/s
Consistency in the units of measurement is the key to getting the correct answer!
 1.3 Development of Hydro-meteorological Study in Nepal
The existence of stone spouts, canals, rajkulos, recharge ponds demonstrate
knowledge of water management system in ancient Nepal, but lacks documentation.
The development of hydro-meteorological study in Nepal can be divided in three
phases: (i) Sporadic studies up to 1960, (ii) DHM centric studies up to 1970, and (iii)
multi-centric studies (evolvement of Multiple Stakeholders, Multi-dimensional, Multi-
disciplinary, Multi Agency).

Sporadic Study of Hydro-meteorology in Nepal: up to 1960

1921 Embassy of India started collecting rain fall data at Lainchaur, Kathmandu
1937-40 India Meteorological Department (IMD) operated 4 climatological stations
and 104 precipitation stations across Nepal (late 1940s)
1950s Government of India collected hydrological data at Arun River, Sun Koshi
River, Tamor River at Tribeni and Koshi at Barahkshetra; Gandaki River at
Bhaisalotan, Mahakali River at Banbasa, Tinau, Trishuli, and West Rapti
1952-53 FAO: Partial studies of smaller tributaries of Bagmati in Kathmandu Valley
1957 Swiss Mission: Hydrological data of Roshi Khola at Panauti

India-Nepal Koshi Agreement was signed in 1954. Was Nepal technically

(hydrologically) prepared to sign the agreement? Daily river discharge measurements
in India and Bangladesh, 2 to 4 times in a year in Nepal. Data is considered secondary.
 1.3 Development of Hydro-meteorological Study in Nepal
Systematic Study of hydro-meteorology in Nepal started in 1960s (DHM centric)
1961 UN Special Fund: Hydrological data collection of Karnali River for the power
feasibility study of the lower Karnali river system
1962 Based on A Water Resources Investigation for Nepal recommendation:
Hydrological Survey Section under the Department of Electricity
1962-68 USAID supported the Hydrological Investigation Project (HIP): river gauging
stations, data computation, compilation, processing, and publication. 30 regular
stream gauging stations and 20 partial stream gauging stations were established.
1963 HIP brought under the Department of Irrigation
1965 Hydrological Survey Department (HSD) under the Ministry of Water and Power
1965 Nepal Meteorological Service under Department of Civil Aviation, WMO member
1966 the HSD took over the responsibility for meteorological data collection from IMD;
and HSD renamed as the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology; WMO
started Aeronautical Meteorology and Synoptic Meteorology
1966-67 Publication of Climatological Records of Nepal & Surface Water Records of Nepal
1969 Groundwater Investigation was initiated jointly by HMG/N and USAID
1970 DHM started enroute forecast at TIA (replaced IMD office)
Note: hydro-meteorological study unit under different departments, all activities initiated by
foreign entity. What message these acts demonstrate on national priority of hydro-met data?
 1.3 Development of Hydro-meteorological Study in Nepal
Multi-centric: Evolvement of Multiple Stakeholders, Multi-dimensional, Multi-disciplinary,
Multi Agency in hydro-meteorological study in Nepal; horizon still expanding at higher rate.
1973 TU started BSc. Program in Meteorology, Master in 1987 and PhD in 2000
1974-80 Agro-meteorology study started (Agro-climatic Atlas of Nepal in 2013)
1975 WEC established (WECS in 1981), NARC established in 1981
1981-87 Operational Hydrology: network expansion and data quality addressed, data
computerized, data analysis procedure established (UNDP/WMO)
1982 Sir M. MacDonald developed MIP method for agriculture, also used in micro-HPPs
1983 DPTC/JICA: Hydro-met study for WID prevention, DWIDP, DWIDM, Disaster Review
1983 ICIMOD study on flood, drought, CC, H&M Atlas of Nepal (DHM CC study in 1994)
1984 Flood Forecasting: real time rainfall (25) and river stage (20) for India and Nepal
1987 Snow and Glacier Hydrology study initiated (GTZ); with 6 stations (Langtang Valley,
Khumbu, Machhapuchhre Base Camp, Makalu, Kanjiroba Himal and Simikot); DHM
separated from Department of Irrigation, Hydrology and Meteorology
1990 Data up to 1985 analyzed and WECS method developed; updated in 2004
1990 JICA conducted groundwater study of Kathmandu Valley
1995 Tso Rolpa and Thulagi Glacial Lake study, GLOF EWS established in 1998
2007-11 PU started MSc. iWRM (2007), KU started Master in Glacial Hydrology (2011)
Sample questions:
1. Draw a neat sketch and describe the hydrological cycle.
2. A basin of area 150 ha received a rainfall of 10.5 cm n 100 minutes due to a storm.
At the outlet of the catchment, the stream draining the catchment was dry before
the storm and experience a runoff lasting for 10 hours with an average discharge of
2 m3/s. The stream was dry after the runoff event.
i. What is the amount of water which was not available for runoff due to the
combined effect of infiltration, evaporation and transpiration?
ii. Determine the runoff coefficient (runoff divided by rainfall) of the basin.
3. Explain the use of hydrological analysis for a bridge project and a hydropower
project. What are the outputs from the hydrological analysis for the design of a
bridge and a hydropower project?
4. What are the scope of engineering hydrology in infrastructure project and disaster
risk management project?
5. An isolated 3-hr storm occurred over a basin in the following fashion. Estimate the
runoff from the basin due to this storm. Calculate the runoff coefficient (runoff
divided by rainfall). f-index is the average water infiltration rate which seeps into
the ground and is unavailable for runoff.
% of catchment f index (cm/hr) Rainfall (cm)
1st hr 2nd hr 3rd hr
20 1.00 0.8 2.3 1.5
40 0.75 0.7 2.1 1.0
40 0.50 1.0 2.5 0.8
 Extra: Data Sources
Data related to hydrology and meteorology of
Nepal are available from:
• Department of Hydrology and Meteorology
http://dhm.gov.np/hydrological-station/
• Department of Agriculture
• Project reports of water resources development
projects like hydropower, irrigation and water-
supply
• Internet based sources:
– NASA, APHRODITE, WMO, FAO, …

The updated number of rivers and rivulets in Nepal, Energy Development Commission (June 2016), is 11614.
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2016/06/nepal-seeks-investors-for-10-gw-of-electricity-by-2026.html
Types of Data Available from the DHM
Meteorological:
• Daily Rainfall
• 24-maximum rainfall (extreme rainfall)
• Maximum, Minimum and Mean temperature
• Relative Humidity
• Wind speed (magnitude and direction)
• Barometric Pressure
• Sunshine (intensity and duration)
• Soil temperature
Hydrological
• Daily gauge height (river stage)
• Daily discharge (converted from stage)
• Instantaneous Flood
• Discharge measurement notes
• Rating Curve
• Suspended sediment concentration
• Water quality