Surface Water Pipe Sizing

The following method is one way of sizing pipework.

1.      Choose a minimum gradient for all pipes, say 1:80

2.      Use the table below to calculate the flow rate in each section.
 
SURFACE TYPE AREA IMPERMEABILITY TOTAL
FACTOR (f)
(A) m2 (A x f)
Road or pavement   0.90  
Roof   0.95  
Path   0.75  
Garden   0.25  
Access road, parking   0.90  
    Total  
 
3.      The area of each surface is calculated from drawings.
4.      The impermeability factor allows for water, which runs off each surface.
5.      The flow rate (Q) for each house can be calculated from:

Q         =          area drained x rainfall intensity x impermeability factor

6.      If Rainfall intensity = 50mm/hr. (0.05 m/hr) then Q becomes:

               

Q       =                 A       x        0.05      x        f                 

Q         =                      (A x f)  0.05       (m3/hr.)

7.      Multiply Q by 0.28 to get value in litres/second.

8.      Multiply Q by number of houses to get Total Q.
9.      Estimate pipe size from Pipe Sizing graph.

For example, size the pipework for 12 houses from the drawing

 
 Example
Size the surface water pipework for 12 houses using the DATA below in the table.

1.       Choose a minimum gradient for all pipes, say 1:80

2.       Surface water flow from each house.

SURFACE TYPE AREA IMPERMEABILITY TOTAL

FACTOR (f)
(A) m2 (A x f)
Road or pavement 20 0.90 18.00
Roof 40 0.95 38.00
Path 15 0.75 11.25
Garden 68 0.25 17.00
Access road, parking 25 0.90 22.50
Total 192 Total 103.50

3.       Rainfall intensity 50mm/hr.= 0.05 m/hr.

Q       =                 area drained x rainfall intensity x impermeability factor       

Q       =                 A       x        0.05      x        f                 

Q       =                 (A x f)          0.05

Q       =                 103.50 x 0.05 =        5.175 m3/hr. = 5.175 x 0.28 = 1.449 /sec.

Q       =                 1.449 litres/second per house X 12 houses.

Q       =                 17.39 litres/second.
Flow graph gives 150mm dia. surface water drain since the point on the graph lies
between 100mm and 150mm