WASTE WATER & SANITARY ENGINEERING

ASSIGNMENT # 1

TITLE : STORM WATER DRAINAGE

SUBMITTED TO : ENGR. ZANIB FIDA

SUBMITTED BY : SALMAN AHMAD

REG. NO. : FA17-CVE-082

SUBMISSION DATE : 24th MARCH, 2021

Q.1
Explain the factors affecting the storm water drainage.

A.1
Factors Affecting Storm Water Drainage
The surface run-off resulting as a result of precipitation contributes to the storm water. The
quantity or discharge of storm water also known as wet weather flow depends upon a
number of factors mentioned as follows:

 Soil Condition
 Terrain
 Surface Obstructions (Vegetation, trees. etc.)
 Rainfall Intensity
 Atmospheric Conditions

Soil Condition
The type of underlying soil of catchment area controls the amount of rainfall that can
infiltrate into the soil, and hence the amount of rainfall which becomes storm water flow.
Water seeps more readily into sandy soil than into clay or rocky ground.

Terrain
Water flows more rapidly down towards a steep slope, leaving it less time to infiltrate than
when it stands or moves slowly in a flat area. On steep slopes, a single heavy rainstorm that
makes the drains overflow can cause enormous damage by erosion, so that a longer return
period may be justified than in flat areas.

Surface Obstructions
Any type of surface obstructions such as vegetation and trees traps much of the water and
also loosens the soil, thus making infiltration easier. On the other hand, with some other
land use such as paved surfaces prevent infiltration.

Rainfall Intensity
The greater the rainfall intensity, the greater would be the potential for storm water runoff.
How long it rains, and the extent of rainfall season and pattern greatly influences the
drainage of wet water flow. If a large storm is preceded by a period of wet weather, then
the ground has little capacity to absorb further rainfall, and a higher proportion of the
rainfall will flow across the land surface and into waterways. 

Atmospheric Conditions
The atmospheric conditions such as temperature and humidity also greatly impact the
drainage, the lower mean temperatures may develop soils of generally higher infiltration
capacity which would produce lower drainage densities. Whereas much humid areas also
tend to have lower drainage due to lower evaporation rate.

Q.2
Explain critical rainfall duration. Why rainfall of this duration will consequently generate
maximum rainfall?

A.2
Critical Rainfall Duration
Definition
The duration of rainfall event likely to cause the highest peak flows or levels at a particular
location, for a specified period.

Explanation
 Critical rainfall duration analysis is performed to estimate the representative peak
discharges and flood stages to properly size flood control projects and initiatives.

 A critical rainfall duration analysis can be performed to determine the critical

duration storm specific to each watershed and each study reach across the
watershed.

 Typically, flood discharges and stages for the 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-, 24- and 48-hour storm
durations for the 100-year frequency event are generated to identify the critical
duration which produces the highest peak flows and stages for all study locations
within the watershed.

 Performing this analysis and using the resulting critical duration events helps to
ensure that the hydrologic/hydraulic models produce the highest flood discharges
and stages across the watershed.