Activity 2.3.

11 Calculating Property Drainage

Introduction
When a property is developed, it is important to understand that changes to watershed
characteristics (i.e., land use, slope, soil type, vegetative cover) will change the amount
of storm water runoff from the site. Development typically increases runoff and
negatively affects water quality, which may impact downstream property owners and the
environment as site storm water flows into drainage swales, ponds, creeks, or rivers.

Several different methods are used by civil engineers to assess the hydrology of a site.
In this activity, you will calculate peak runoff using the rational method.

Equipment
●​ Calculator
●​ Journal

Procedure
For small drainage areas, the peak runoff can be easily computed using the rational
formula. The formula is:
Q=CfCiA
Q = Peak runoff rate in cubic feet per second
i = Rainfall intensity in inches per hour (see map)
A = Drainage area in acres
C = Runoff coefficient (see table)
Cf=Runoff coefficient adjustment factor (see table)

For Example
Suppose a developer purchased a three acre farm in Nashville, TN (in the middle of the
state). As part of the project, a 30,000 sq ft asphalt parking lot area will be placed on
one side of the three acre farm. The 10-year 1-hour rainfall chart (see map) indicates
that the rainfall amount is 2.17 inches/hour. Solve the rational formula to determine the
peak flow of the property prior to development (pre-development) and after the addition
of the asphalt parking lot (post-development).

Part 1: Calculation of site runoff prior to addition of parking lot

Pre-development
i = 2.17 in. (see Precipitation Intensity Estimates chart)
A = 3 acres

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Project 2.3.11 Calculating Property Drainage – Page 1
C= 0.18 (average Rational Runoff Coefficient for farmland, see chart)
Cf= 1.0
Q = CfCiA =(1.0)(0.18) (2.17 in/hr) (3 ac) = 1.2 cfs

Part 2: Calculation of site runoff for parking lot. The additional runoff from the
impermeable, asphalt parking lot must be accounted for.

Post-development
i = 2.17 in. (see Rainfall Intensity map or Precipitation Intensity Estimates table)
A1 = 30,000 sq ft or 0.69 acres (parking lot)
A2 = 3 acres – 0.69 acres = 2.31 acres (farmland minus parking lot)
C1 = 0.95 (conservative coefficient for parking lot, see chart)

C2 = 0.18 (average coefficient for farmland, see chart)

A composite runoff coefficient (Cc) must be calculated that reflects the

post-development watershed characteristics before calculating the peak runoff when the
parking lot is added to the farmland.

Use the composite runoff coefficient in the rational formula to determine the runoff when
the parking lot is added to the farmland.

Q = CfCiA = (1.0)(0.36) (2.17 in/hr) (3 ac) = 2.3 cfs

Part 3: Therefore, the peak runoff has increased from approximately 1.2 cfs to 2.3 cfs
(nearly double) for a total change of 1.1 cfs as a result of paving over 30,000 sf (23% of
property) of previously permeable farmland.

The engineer uses this information to create a storm water management plan for the
site. The storm water management plan would include drainage swales (i.e., ditches)
that direct site runoff to a detention basin. The basin will hold the site runoff and control
the release of water to a maximum Q that is equal to the pre-development peak runoff.

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Project 2.3.11 Calculating Property Drainage – Page 2
 10-Year 1-Hour Rainfall (in.)

Precipitation Intensity Estimate Tables or IDF charts can be used as an alternative to

rainfall intensity maps.

To obtain a Precipitation Intensity Table for locations within the United States, visit the
Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center Precipitation Frequency Data Server at
http://hdsc.nws.noaa.gov/hdsc/pfds/index.html. Choose the applicable state. Then
choose Precipitation Intensity as the data type and Partial duration for the Time series
type. Next select the location and depress the Submit site button. The Precipitation
Intensity Estimates for Nashville follow. Note that the 10 yr – 1 hr intensity from the table
differs slightly from the intensity map. In general the tabulated values should be more
accurate.

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Project 2.3.11 Calculating Property Drainage – Page 3
 Rational Method Runoff Coefficients
Categorized by Surface
Forested 0.059—0.2
Asphalt 0.7—0.95
Brick 0.7—0.85
Concrete 0.8—0.95
Shingle roof 0.75—0.95
Lawns, well drained (sandy soil)
Up to 2% slope 0.05—0.1
2% to 7% slope 0.10—0.15
Over 7% slope 0.15—0.2
Lawns, poor drainage (clay soil)
Up to 2% slope 0.13—0.17
2% to 7% slope 0.18—0.22
Over 7% slope 0.25—0.35
Driveways, walkways 0.75—0.85
Categorized by Use
Farmland 0.05—0.3
Pasture 0.05—0.3
Unimproved 0.1—0.3
Parks 0.1—0.25
Cemeteries 0.1—0.25
Railroad yard 0.2—0.40
Playgrounds (except asphalt or concrete) 0.2—0.35
Business Districts
Neighborhood 0.5—0.7
City (downtown) 0.7—0.95
Residential
Single-family 0.3—0.5
Multi-plexes, detached 0.4—0.6
Multi-plexes, attached 0.6—0.75
Suburban 0.25—0.4
Apartments, condominiums 0.5—0.7
Industrial
Light 0.5—0.8
Heavy 0.6—0.9
Lindeburg, M. R. (1994). Civil engineering reference manual (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Professional Publications, Inc.
Runoff Coefficient Adjustment Factor
Return Period Cf
1, 2, 5, 10 1.0
25 1.1
50 1.2
100 1.25

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Project 2.3.11 Calculating Property Drainage – Page 4
Procedure
Use the rational formula to calculate the answers to each of the following. Show all of
your work. Use the rational formula to calculate the change in runoff for each of the
following developed sites.

1.​ What is the change in storm water runoff for a 1.5 acre site near Chicago
University in Chicago, IL that was forested before construction? A 50ft x 35ft
coffee shop with a 100ft x 120ft parking lot was built on the site. The remainder of
the site was planted with lawn in well drained, sandy soil that has a slope of over
7%. The design storm is a 25-yr 1-hr storm. Use average runoff coefficients for
forested land and the post-development lawn, but use conservative values for the
post-development roof and parking lot runoff coefficients. Remember to use the
runoff coefficient adjustment factor for a recurrence interval greater than 10
years. Note: Use Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center Precipitation
Frequency Data Server at http://hdsc.nws.noaa.gov/hdsc/pfds/index.html to
estimate the precipitation intensity. Be sure to select precipitation intensity under
Data Type – the default selection will produce the wrong chart. Conversion factor:
1a

before
50 x 35, 120 x 100,
used to be woodeded,
sandy soil lawns.
25 yr 1 hr storm.
I=2.42
PreA- 1.5
Cf=1.1
C=0.13
1.5 x 2.42 x 1.1 x .13 =0.519

After 1.5 acres

cafe 50 x 35 =1750/43560=.04 (-) C=.95
parking lot 12000 sq ft =.28 (-) C=.95
A= 1.18 C= 1.75

Cpost= 0.95 x .04 + .95 x .28 + 1.175 x 1.18 / 1.5 = 1.23

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Project 2.3.11 Calculating Property Drainage – Page 5
 2.​ What is the change in storm water runoff for the Affordable Home site in
Noblesville, IN (10th & Maple)? Assume the existing site is flat, well drained, and
is covered by sandy soil with some vegetation and has an estimated runoff
coefficient of 0.1. Assume a 100-yr, 1-hr design storm.
C=.1
100 year 1 hour storm I = 5.3
a=43560 ft^2
Q = 1924

C=.7
x 5.3 x 43560
Q = 13480

Change in runoff = 11, 550 ft ^3

Conclusion
1.​ What impact does adding an asphalt parking lot have on the site runoff on a
farm?
With more water flowing overtop, larger runoffs could be more common.
Furthermore ppullutants or litter from nearby machinery and passerby could
affect water and soil quality.

2.​ How can you limit the downstream negative effects of storm water runoff?
Along with high quality infrastructure and irrigation. Foliage and vegetation
planmted nearby could help oprevent negative effects from storm water runoff.

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Project 2.3.11 Calculating Property Drainage – Page 6