WATER BALANCE FOR LAND

DISPOSAL OF PRETREATED
WASTEWATER EFFLUENTS
Background
What IS a Water Balance?

Definition: A water balance is an

assessment of the major components of
a hydrologic system and includes the
interactions between surface water and
ground water systems. It provides a
general understanding of the
magnitude of recharge and discharge
components.
 Physical Mechanisms to
Consider in a Water Balance
• When the effluent is applied to land:
– It may enter the subsurface through infiltration
– It may evaporate and return to the atmosphere
Where the Infiltrated Water Goes
• First, the effluent will hit the

– Where interparticle voids contain soil, moisture

and air!
• Then it might enter the saturated zone, or
• Return to the atmosphere by plants via
evapotranspiration
 Other Water Balance
Considerations
In addition to the applied effluent,
Don’t forget the rainfall!
Infiltration
 Infiltration
• Definition: Infiltration is the movement
of water through the soil
surface and into the soil
itself.
 Infiltration Rates
• Definition: The rate at which the water
actually enters the soil!
• Are a function of:
– Soil type
– Effluent quality
– Drying time between effluent applications
– Etc.
 Conservative Infiltration Rates *
Clay Soils
- Should not exceed 0.01 ft/day
Sandy Soils
- Should not exceed 0.03 ft/day

*Based on the infiltration surface being dried and

disked/ripped at least annually.
 Key Concerns
• Maintaining minimum 5 foot clearance
from groundwater.
• Ensuring percolated effluent does not
resurface in immediate vicinity (often due
to land slope and impervious strata).
• Run-off
• Groundwater mounding and/or lateral
movement of water due to impervious
strata.
Evaporation
 Evaporation
• Definition: The transformation of water
from the liquid to the vapor
state.

Source: http://www.videoweather.com/weatherquestions/What_is_evaporation.htm
 How Do You Get Evaporation
Data??
• Evaporation data from open water (PAN)
surfaces are available from local/state
authorities.

An
evaporation
pan

Source: http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/atmos/statecli/Instruments/weather_instruments.htm
 Calculating Site Specific
Evaporation Rates
E  k  EP  CP
Where,
E: Design evaporation rate [in/month]
EP: PAN evaporation rate for month and location
being studied [in/month]
CP: PAN coefficient to correct for excess
evaporation. Usually 0.8. [-]
k: Weather correction factor
Relationship Between Precipitation
and PAN Evaporation
1.15
k =Actual Pan Evaporation [in/year]/Average PAN

1.10

1.05

1.00
Evaporation [in/year]

0.95

0.90

0.85

0.80
2
y = -0.0569x + 1.04 R = 0.1256
0.75

0.70
0.0 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.0 1.3 1.5 1.8 2.0
Actual Precipitation [in/year]/Average Precipitation [in/year]

Source: Data points obtained from the Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources,
University of California (www.ipm.ucdavis.edu)
 Obtaining Rainfall Data
• Available from local/state/federal
authorities such as:
– the Department of Water Resources
– the University of California, Davis
– National Weather Service

The following table shows both PAN and

rainfall data obtained from UC Davis.
Example of PAN and Rainfall Data for Davis, CA
Monthy Averages Report for DAVIS.C (NCDC #2294, Davis)

(Calculated from daily averages)

County: Yolo

Latitude/Longitude: 38 deg 32 min N / 121 deg 46 min W Elevation: 60 ft

IPM records begin/end: June 5, 1908 / about June, 2003 Ground cover: Bare soil

Precipitation Solar PAN

Air Temperatures Soil Temperatures
Amount Radiation Evaporation
Month
Max Min Max Min
(in/day) (LY) (in)
(F) (F) (F) (F)
January 0.13 53 37 158 49 45 0.05
February 0.13 60 40 253 54 49 0.09
March 0.10 65 43 384 61 54 0.15
April 0.03 72 45 519 70 61 0.25
May 0.02 81 50 614 80 70 0.35
June 0.01 88 55 690 88 78 0.44
July 0.00 93 56 694 94 82 0.44
September 0.01 88 53 500 85 76 0.33
October 0.03 78 48 356 74 67 0.22
November 0.08 63 41 222 59 54 0.11
December 0.09 54 36 155 50 46 0.06

Source: Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
(www.ipm.ucdavis.edu)
Evapotranspiration

Source: http://wwwcimis.water.ca.gov/cimis/infoEtoOverview.jsp
What is Evapotranspiration (ET)?
• A combination of two processes:
1) Evaporation – Loss of water from a vegetated
field through vaporization of water from soil
and plant surfaces.
2) Transpiration – Water, taken into the plant
through the root system, passes through pores
and evaporates into the atmosphere.

Evaporation +
Transpiration =
Evapotranspiration
 Factors Affecting ET
• Location
• Crop Type
• Season
• Irrigation Practices
 Finding ET Information
• Government agencies will usually have something
called the:

(or ETo)

• ETo is a function of:

– Location
– Time
– Weather
 CIMIS ETo Reference Crop
• The California Irrigation Water
Management System (CIMIS)1 uses the
following reference crop:
– Grass
• Closely clipped
• Actively growing
• Completely shading the soil
• Well watered

1 www.cimis.water.ca.gov
 Calculating Crop Specific ETo

ETc
Kc 
ETo

Where,

kc: Crop coefficient (ratio of ETc to ETo)

ETc: For crop of interest [in/unit time]
CIMIS Normal Year ETo Zones for California

Source:
http://wwwcimis.water.ca.gov/cimis/
images/etomap.jpg
 CIMIS Map
• Divides the state into 18 zones
• Provides average year Etos for each zone for each
month.
• Estimated standard deviation: 0.01 in/month
Other Applications
• Apply crop coefficients (kc) to ETo to get crop
specific ETc.
• Crop coefficients can be found at CIMIS web site.
 Other ET Facts
• Largest ETcs come from irrigated pasture
grasses.
• Maximum ETc roughly 0.7 time PAN
evaporation rate.
• Little to no ET may occur during field
preparation, harvesting, or other operations.
EXAMPLE OF DESIGN OF A
LAND DISPOSAL SYSTEM
The First Things You’ll Need to Know About
Designing a Land Disposal System
• Location of land disposal system:
– Davis, CA (surprise, surprise)
• Area Soil Type:
– Predominately clay-based
• Subsurface conditions will not limit
infiltration rates.
• Design for 1-in-100 year wet season.
– Estimated AWWF1-100 ~ 1.2 MGD
• ADWF = 1.0 MGD
Some data needs to be
collected…
 Average Water Year Data for the
City of Davis

Month O N D J F M A M J J A S Total

Days of the mont 31 30 31 31 28 31 30 31 30 31 31 30 365

Average Rainfall [in] 0.90 2.40 2.79 4.03 3.72 3.01 0.96 0.56 0.18 0.03 0.03 0.30 18.91

Average PAN Evaporation [in] 6.95 3.37 1.85 1.63 2.64 4.74 7.60 10.98 13.25 13.50 12.08 9.80 88.39

Average Eto [in] 4.03 2.10 1.55 1.55 2.24 3.72 5.10 6.82 7.80 8.68 7.75 5.70 57.04
 Rainfall Depth-Duration-
Frequency (DDF) Information
Rainfall Depth Duration Frequency
Station Station No County Lat Long. Elev. Source Ob Time Yrs Rec Slope Intercept
Davis 2 WSW A00 2294 00 Yolo 38.535 -121.775 60 CD 105

Return Period for Rainfall For Indicated Number Of Concecutive Days

1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 15 20 30 60 W-YR
RP 2 1.75 2.34 2.71 2.99 3.27 3.53 3.96 4.27 4.96 5.50 6.63 9.59 16.95
RP 5 2.36 3.24 3.79 4.19 4.56 4.88 5.44 5.85 6.73 7.51 9.00 12.93 21.68
RP 10 2.75 3.85 4.51 4.97 5.41 5.73 6.37 6.82 7.77 8.72 10.43 14.90 24.37
RP 25 3.23 4.60 5.41 5.95 6.46 6.77 7.47 7.96 8.98 10.14 12.10 17.17 27.40
RP 50 3.57 5.16 6.07 6.65 7.22 7.51 8.26 8.77 9.81 11.13 13.26 18.75 29.45
RP 100 3.91 5.71 6.73 7.35 7.97 8.22 9.01 9.54 10.60 12.06 14.36 20.23 31.35
RP 200 4.24 6.25 7.37 8.03 8.70 8.92 9.75 10.28 11.35 12.96 15.42 21.65 33.15
RP 500 4.66 6.95 8.21 8.92 9.66 9.83 10.69 11.23 12.30 14.11 16.78 23.44 35.40
RP 1000 4.98 7.49 8.85 9.59 10.38 10.50 11.39 11.93 12.99 14.95 17.77 24.75 37.02
RP 10000 6.03 9.25 10.96 11.79 12.75 12.69 13.65 14.19 15.18 17.63 20.93 28.90 42.06

Source: California Department of Water Resources, Division of Flood Management, Hydrology Branch
 Step 1 – Development of
Monthly Disposal Potential
• Some calculations need to be done:
Monthly 100 RP Rainfall Events:
Rain fall1100  2.072  AverageRain fall[in / month]
Where,
2.072 = Value for RP 100 for 30 days (see previous slide) /
Average value (found in Appendix O) = 14.36 in / 17.31 in
Average Rainfall: From Davis average water year data table.
 1 in 100 Year Rainfall Event
Pond Evaporation
Pond Evaporation1100  CP  k  PAN[in / month]

Where,
Cp = 0.8 (typical value)
k = 0.922 (from Precipitation vs. PAN Evaporation chart,
k = -0.0569[Average Precipitation] + 1.04)
PAN Evaporation: From water year data from the City of Davis
 Monthly Infiltration
Infiltration [in / month]  k inf [# of days / month]
12[in/ft]

Where,
kinf = 0.01 feet/day (from equation)
 Losses or Gains from Pond and
Disposal Area
Ponds:
Net loss or Net Gain from Ponds 
Rain fall  Pond Evaporation  Infiltration

Disposal Area:
Net loss or Net Gain from Disposal Area 
Rain fall  Evapotranspiration  Infiltration
 Voila! A Disposal Potential Table

Month O N D J F M A M J J A S Total

Raifall1-100 [in] 1.86 4.97 5.78 8.35 7.72 6.23 1.99 1.16 0.37 0.06 0.06 0.62 39.2

Pond Evaporation 1-100 [in] -5.13 -2.49 -1.36 -1.20 -1.95 -3.50 -5.61 -8.10 -9.77 -9.96 -8.91 -7.23 -65.2

Evapotranspiration1-100 [in] -4.03 -2.10 -1.55 -1.55 -2.24 -3.72 -5.10 -6.82 -7.80 -8.68 -7.75 -5.70 -57.0

Infiltration [in] -3.72 -3.60 -3.72 -3.72 -3.36 -3.72 -3.60 -3.72 -3.60 -3.72 -3.72 -3.60 -43.8
Net Loss (-), Gain(+) from ponds
-6.98 -1.11 0.70 3.43 2.41 -0.99 -7.22 -10.66 -13.00 -13.61 -12.57 -10.21 -69.8
area a [in]
Net Loss (-), Gain(+) from disposal
-5.89 -0.73 0.51 3.08 2.12 -1.21 -6.71 -9.38 -11.03 -12.34 -11.41 -8.68 -61.7
area b [in]
 Step 2 – Analysis of Table of
Disposal Potential
DISPOSAL

• Disposal area used from March through

October
• Disposal potential of 61 in/year under 1-
in-100 year conditions.
 Step 2 (Cont.) – Analysis of
Table of Disposal Potential
STORAGE/RUN-OFF

• Disposal area gains water from Dec.

through Feb.
– Must store rainwater or let it run off.
– Run-off approach normally taken when there is
a large disposal area.
• Requires that disposal area not receive effluent for
one month prior to run-off (for this case, November
is reserved for drying out period).
 Step 2 (Cont.) – Analysis of
Table of Disposal Potential
STORAGE/RUN-OFF (CONT.)

• All effluent stored from November through

February.
• Likely effluent storage in latter half of
October.
• Likely effluent storage in March.
• Limited storage necessary in early April
(based on monthly pond gain/loss)
 Step 2 (Cont.) – Analysis of
Table of Disposal Potential
• 1-in-100 year storage pond disposal:
• –69.8 in/year
 Step 3 – Estimation of Annual
Flow, Storage Volume and Pond
Area
 Annual Flow
Calculate Approximate Annual Flow:

Approx Annual Flow  7 months  30 days month1MGD

 5 months  30 days month1.2 MGD  390 MG / Year

7 months: Number of disposal months (April – October)

1.2 MGD: Flow during wet months (AWWF)
5 months: Number of storage months (November – March)
1.0 MGD: Flow during disposal months (ADWF)
 Annual Flow and Storage Volume
Estimated Days Volume of Water
Month Flow (MGD) Storing Water Stored (MG)
October 1 15 15
November 1.2 30 36
December 1.2 31 37.2
January 1.2 31 37.2
February 1.2 28 33.6
March 1.2 31 37.2
April 1 15 15
TOTAL -- 181 211.2

Note: Flows used for this estimate are the flows provided in the
initial assumptions. A more thorough approach must correlate
rainfall and flow into the plant to include infiltration/inflow
phenomena.
 Estimating Pond Area
• Assume typical pond depth of 12 feet

(211  10 6 gallons )  (1 ft 3 7.48 gallons )

Rough Pond Area 
(12 ft  (net gain from Oct . thru April  8.83 in  0.736 ft))

1 acre
 2,504,311 ft 2  2
 57.5 acres
43,560 ft
 Step 4 – Estimation of Disposal
Potential of Storage Volume
• Based on a net pond loss of 69.8 in/year
Disposal Potential of Storage Volume  (2,504,311 ft 2 )  69.8in/yea r 


 ft/12in   7.48 gal/ft 3
  109MG

 About 109 MG of stored effluent can be

disposed of per year.
 Step 5 – Estimation of Disposal
Area
• Need:
– Disposal area capable of accommodating approximately:

Actual Annual Volume  Storage Volume Disposal Potential 

395.2 MG  109 MG  286.2 MG per year
 Calculate Disposal Area
• Recall a net loss from disposal area of 60.97
in/year during March through October.

(286.2 106 gal/season )  ft 3 /7.48 gal 

Disposal Area 
60.97 in/season ft/12in 
ac
 7,529,426ft 2
2
 173ac
43,560ft
Step 6: Complete the Water
Balance
 Further Calculations
Flow to Disposal Area:

 43,560 ft 2 
Flow to Disposal Area  173 acres   
 acre 
  in  
  Disposal Potential Disposal Area   
  month  
 ft   7.48 gal   MG 
     6  [MG]
 12in   ft   10 
3
 Disposal Area from Storage

 43,560 ft 2 
Disposal from Storage  57.5 ac  
 ac 
  in    ft 
  Disposal Potential Ponds      
  month    12in 
 7.48 gal   MG 
    6  [MG]
 ft   10 
3
 Net Flow to Storage

Total Flow
 Flow to Disposal
 Disposal to Storage [MG]
Net Flow to Storage
 Water Balance Table

Month O N D J F M A M J J A S Total

Flow Rate [MG] 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 13.0

Days of the Month [days] 31 30 31 31 28 31 30 31 30 31 31 30 365.0

Total Flow [MG] 31.0 36.0 37.2 37.2 33.6 37.2 30.0 31.0 30.0 31.0 31.0 30.0 395.2

Flow to Disposal [MG] -28.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -5.9 -32.6 -45.6 -53.6 -60.0 -55.4 -42.2 -323.9

Disposal from Storage [MG] -10.9 -1.7 1.1 5.4 3.8 -1.5 -11.3 -16.6 -20.3 -21.3 -19.6 -15.9 -109.0

Storage Net Flow [MG] -8.5 34.3 38.3 42.6 37.4 29.8 -13.9 -31.3 -43.9 -50.2 -44.1 -28.1 -37.7

Accumulation in Storage [MG] 34.3 72.5 115.1 152.5 182.2 168.4 137.1 93.2 43.0 -1.0

Storage Storage
No Storage Starts Dries
Needed No Storage
Maximum Needed
Storage
 Storage Accumulation
• Storage starts accumulating in first month
having net flow to storage.
– In this example, November is the first month.
– Can be October in wetter areas (e.g. in the
mountains, along the coast)
Initial Conclusions and Questions
• Maximum Storage Capacity Required:
182.2 MGD

Why is this lower than preliminary estimate of

211 MG?
– Preliminary estimate did not consider disposal
capacities of storage area.
What to do about it:
– Consider extra capacity as safely buffer
– Recalculate pond depth (which we will do later)
 Step 7: Final Design
Considerations for Land Disposal
System
 DISPOSAL AREA
• Add 15% more area for:
– Roads
– Fences
– Regulatory setbacks

Disposal Area  179ac  1.15  205.85 ac  206ac

Types of Irrigation – Disposal Area
• Due to flatness of area around Davis, can
attain flood irrigation.
• A sprinkler system can be selected if flood
irrigation is not cost effective.
Sprinkler-type Tip:
Use an inline basket strainer after sprinkler
pumps to remove material that might obstruct
sprinkler nozzles.
Crop Considerations – Disposal Area
• Crop Type: Grasses
– Need additional disposal land for drying and
harvestings
• Different crops
– Use crop correction coefficient for
evapotranspiration rate calculations.
Other Disposal Area Considerations
• Must have run-off catchment with return to
storage area (in case of accidental over-
irrigation).
– Prevents:
• Run-off to drainage and surface water.
 Storage Area and Pond
• Add 20% more area for:
– Levees
– Roads
– Fences

Final Storage Area and Pond  57.5ac  1.2  69 ac

 Recalculation of Pond Depth
• Max Storage Volume: 182 MG (August)

StorageDepth 

(182.2  10 6 gal)  ft 3 /7.48 gal 9.73 ft  10 ft
 43560ft 2
57.5 ac    
 ac 

Include at least 2 feet of freeboard:

Final Storage Depth  12 ft

 Final Note

• Disposal/Pond system not used much in

normal years!
Questions? Questions??
Anyone???