SWMM Hydrology and

Hydraulics
Reference:
Storm Water Management Model Reference Manual Volume I & 2 –
Hydrology and Hydraulics
U.S. EPA January 2016
SWMM Processes
Atmospher
e
(Hydrology)
Land Surface
(Hydrology)

Conveyanc
e
(Hydraulics)
Sub-Surface
(Hydrology)

R1:
SWMM Process Schematic
Subcatchments
Subcatchment Discretization

• Most study areas will require

discretization to properly
characterize the spatial variability
within the study area.
• Discretization is based on drainage
boundaries.
• Determined using topographic
maps, subsurface drainage network
elevations or both.

R1:
Subcatchments
PCSWMM’s Watershed Delineation Tool (WDT)

CHI: 77718
Atmosphere
Rainfall Time Series

Continuous Single Event

R1:
Atmosphere
Precipitation Data Design Storm Creator in PCSWMM

• User specifies the

following:
• Rainfall format (intensity,
volume or cumulative);
• Time interval associated
with each reading (5 min, 10
min, 1 hr);
• Source of the data, ID of the
station or data source (time
series object or external
rainfall file).

R1:
Surface
Subcatchment Partitioning

(A1)

with depression
storage (A2)

A2
Surface
Nonlinear Reservoir Model of a Subcatchment
1.49 5Τ 1Τ
q= 𝑊 ⋅ 𝑑 − 𝑑𝑠 3 ⋅𝑆 2
𝜕𝑑 𝑛

= 𝑙ሶ − 𝑒 − 𝑓 − 𝑞
𝜕𝑡

Where:
𝜕𝑑
= change in depth over time
𝜕𝑡
𝑙 ሶ = rate of rainfall + snowmelt + run-on
𝑒 = surface evaporation rate
𝑓 = infiltration rate
𝑞 = runoff rate per unit surface area
R1:
Subcatchment Parameters
• Area, outlet, raingage
• Imperviousness %
• Slope
• Manning’s roughness – for impervious and pervious
• Depression storage - for impervious and pervious
• Subcatchment width

R1: 65, 73
Infiltration
SWMM Infiltration Methods

• Horton’s method
• Modified Horton’s method
• Curve Number method
• Green-Ampt method
• Modified Green-Ampt method

R1:
Evaporation

Evaporation can occur for:

• Rainfall and runoff from subcatchments
• Depression storage on subcatchment
• Water flowing in open channels
• Water held in storage units
Runoff routed through hydraulics
Links and Nodes

Default Default
Nodes Links
Symbol Symbol
Junctions Conduits
Outfalls Pumps
Dividers Weirs
Storages Orifices
Outlets
Kinematic Wave Routing

• Cannot have looped networks.

• Cannot have backwater effects.
• Pressure-flow conditions are not correctly
modeled.

CHI:
R2: 63
77721
Dynamic Wave Routing
• Governed by the equations for:
1. the conservation of mass, and
2. momentum.
• Assumes gradually varied, unsteady flow
(i.e., the Saint Venant equations).
• Allows for:
• Branched or looped networks,
• Backwater due to tidal or non-tidal
conditions,
• Free-surface flow,
• Pressure flow or surcharge, and
• Flow reversals.

CHI:
R2: 40
77721
One Dimensional Saint-Venant Equations
Basic differential equations come from the gradually varied, unsteady flow equations for
open channels known as the Saint-Venant or shallow water equations.

Where:
𝜕𝐴 𝜕𝑄
+ =0 A = cross-sectional area
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 Q = conduit flow
x = distance along the pipe/channel
t = time

CHI:
R2: 40
77721
 Momentum Equation
𝜕𝑄 𝜕(𝑄 2 Τ𝐴) 𝜕(𝑌 + 𝑍)
+ + 𝑔𝐴ℎ𝐿 + 𝑔𝐴 + 𝑔𝐴𝑆𝑓 − 𝑈𝑞𝐿 Τ2 = 0
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
Local Convective Minor losses Pressure + Gravity Friction Evaporative and
acceleration acceleration force force force Seepage losses

Dynamic Wave
Diffusive Wave
Kinematic Wave
Where:
𝜕𝑄
𝜕𝑡 = change in flow over time Z = conduit invert elevation
g = gravitational constant Y = conduit water depth
A = cross-sectional area U = flow velocity
x = distance along the pipe/channel 𝑞𝐿 = total uniform outflow rate along a conduit
Sf = friction (energy) slope ℎ𝐿 = minor head loss per unit length of a conduit
Q = conduit flow CHI:
R2: 40
77721
Junctions
Can represent maintenance hatches, the confluence of network elements, changes in
hydraulic properties or locations for head calculations.

Junctions connecting two parallel conduits

R2: 31
Outfalls
• Outfalls define the boundary condition(s)
of the model
• Only a single link can be connected to an
outfall
• Outfalls can be added within a network to
divert water to a subcatchment (to
represent end of pipe LID or irrigation)

R2: 31
Storages

• Nodes that provide storage volume

• Can represent a wide range of sizes
from a catch basin to a lake, above
ground or underground
• Volumetric properties described by a
function or table of surface area vs.
depth

R2: 32
Types of Storages
Storage Type Description

Tabular Represented through a storage curve with a depth to area

relationship
Functional Represented with the equation: 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝐴 × 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ𝐵 + 𝐶
Conduits
• Pipes or channels that route flow from one
node to another

CHI:
R2: 33
77693
Weirs
• Model outlet and diversion structures
• Transverse, side flow, v-notch,
trapezoidal, roadway

Parameters:
• Inlet/Outlet nodes
• Shape
• Height
• Offset
• Discharge coefficient
CHI:
R2:
77715
Orifices
• Model outlet and diversion structures
• Can be side outlet or bottom outlet;
circular or rectangular

Parameters:
• Inlet/Outlet nodes
• Configuration and shape
• Height and offset
• Discharge coefficient
• Time to open or close
CHI:
R2:
77703
Outlets

• Rating curve base flow control

device
• Function or table describing depth-
discharge or head-discharge
relationship

CHI:
R2:
77705
Pumps

CHI:
R2:
77707
Node Hydraulic Conditions

Non-Surcharged Surcharged Flooded

R2: 31
Dual-Drainage Models

CHI:
1D Dual-Drainage
Integrated 1D-2D
Dual-drainage model
• Link 1D-2D with:
• orifices for catchbasins, or
• direct connections (i.e. shared
nodes) for bridges/culverts
PCSWMM 2D Background
Integrated 1D-2D SWMM5 model
• PCSWMM does the pre- and post-
processing for a 2D model
• But the computational engine
remains EPA SWMM, which solves
the hydraulic equations of one-
dimensional, gradually varied,
unsteady flow
Hydrology with PCSWMM 2D
PCSWMM can seamlessly integrate hydrology and hydraulics

Can Represent:
• Fluvial flooding – stream bank overtopping or flooding sewers
• Pluvial Flooding – directly caused by rainfall due to insufficient overland flow

Supports:
• Lumped hydrology approach
• Distributed hydrology approach
Lumped hydrology
Subcatchment runoff to 1D nodes Subcatchment runoff to 2D nodes

• For stream bank overtopping/sewer • For insufficient overland pathways

inlets have capacity or limited sewer inlet capacity
Distributed hydrology
2D cells as subcatchments Direct rain on mesh/grid

• Copy and paste 2D cells in • Use rainfall hyetograph as 2D

subcatchments layer junction inflow with a scale factor