Infiltration Indexes

Infiltration

index is the average rate of loss such that the volume of

rainfall in excess of that rate will be equal to direct runoff.

Estimates

of runoff volume from large areas, having heterogeneous

infiltration and rainfall characteristics, are made by use of infiltration
indexes.

Infiltration indexes assume that infiltration rate is constant throughout the

storm duration. This assumption tends to underestimate the higher initial
rate of infiltration while overestimating the lower final rate.

Infiltration indexes are best suited for applications involving either longduration storms or a catchment with high initial moisture content.
Under such conditions, the neglect of the variation of infiltration rate with
time generally justified on practical grounds.

Two types of indexes: Phi-index and W-index are used.

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Rainfall
Runoff

Index

Time

 index method
A simpler method because it assumes no variation in f(t) with time. Hence,
an infiltration index is used which assumes infiltration to be constant
through time (at mm hr-1).
The -index is defined as that rate of rainfall above which the rainfall
volume equals the runoff volume. The -index is relatively simple and all
losses due to infiltration, interception and depression storage (i.e., storage
in pits and ponds) are accounted for, hence,
-index is ratio of basin recharge and duration of rainfall
Provided i> through out the storm

W-index
The W-index is the average infiltration rate averaged over the whole storm
period, and is given by;

W-index = F/Tr = (P - Q) / Tr
The W-index is the average infiltration rate during the time rainfall intensity
exceeds the infiltration capacity rate
Where
W = W-index in mm/hr
F = Total infiltration including initial basin recharge in mm
P = rainfall depth in mm
Q =
runoff depth in mm
Tr = duration of rainfall in hour.
The W-index attempts to allow for depression storage, short rainless periods
during a storm and eliminates all rain periods during which i < fp. Thus, the
W-index is essentially equal to the -index minus the average rate of retention
by interception and depression storage, i.e., W < .
The W-index considers the initial abstraction of rainwater as well. Since it is
difficult to determine the correct values of the initial abstraction, the W-index
method is not very popular.
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Example 1
A storm with 20 cm of precipitation produced a surface runoff of 11.6 cm.
Estimate the index of the storm if the data recorded is as follows:
Storm time (h)

Rainfall intensity (cm/h)

0.8

1.8

3.0

4.6

3.6

3.2

2.0

1.0

Solution
From the rainfall distribution, the total rainfall is 20 cm. Therefore, the
depth abstracted by infiltration is (20 - 11.6) = 8.4 cm.
With reference to Figure 1, the index is calculated by trial and error.

Trial #1

A value of between 0.8 and 1 cm/h is assumed. A mass balance leads to

(1.8 - ) x 1 + (3.0 - ) x 1 + (4.6 - ) x 1 + (3.6 - ) x 1
+ (3.2 - ) x 1 + (2.0 - ) x 1 + (1.0 - ) x 1 = 11.6
19.2 - 7 = 11.6
Solving gives = 1.085 cm/h, which does not lie within assumed range of
0.8 and 1.

Trial #2
A value of between 1 and 1.8 cm/h is assumed. A mass
balance leads to
(1.8 - ) x 1 + (3.0 - ) x 1 + (4.6 - ) x 1 +
(3.6 - ) x 1 + (3.2 - ) x 1 + (2.0 - ) x 1 = 11.6
18.2 - 6 = 11.6
Solving gives = 1.1 cm/h, which lies between 1 and 1.8,
verifying that the assumed range for f was correct.

6.0

5.0

Intensity cm/h

4.0

3.0
phi -index

= 1.1 cm/h

2.0

1.0

0.0
1

Time, h

Figure. Rainfall hyetograph and phi-index.

Example 1 (2nd method)

A storm with 20 cm of precipitation produced a surface runoff of 11.6 cm.
Estimate the index of the storm if the data recorded is as follows:
Storm time (h)

Rainfall intensity (cm/h)

0.8

1.8

3.0

4.6

3.6

3.2

2.0

1.0

Solution
Infiltration of rainwater = 20 - 11.6 = 8.4 cm
The solution has to found by selecting the effective rainfall period iteratively.

Assume that the full length of the storm period, i.e. 8 hours is the effective
rainfall period.
Therefore, index = 8.4 / 8 = 1.05 cm/h
However, this value of index is more than the rainfall recorded during the
first and the eight hour respectively, which is not possible.
Therefore, by assuming again that the effective rainfall period is 6 hours, we
eliminate the chance for occurrence of any excess rainfall during the first and
eight hour respectively.

Example 1 (Contd)
Then for the 6-hour effective time period, the infiltration loss is
= 20 - 0.8 - 1.0 - 11.6 = 6.6 cm
Therefore,
index = 6.6 / 6 = 1.1 cm/h
This value of index is not more than any of the values of precipitation
from the second to the seventh hour of the storm, and is, therefore,
acceptable. (Figure )

Using Excel

Total Runoff =

12.20

=IF(RI- > 0, RI-, 0)

Total Runoff =
11.6
cm
Time Rainfall Intensity Index
(hr)
(cm hr-1)
1.00
1
0.8
0.00
2
1.8
0.80
3
3
2.00
4
4.6
3.60
5
3.6
2.60
6
3.2
2.20
7
2
1.00
8
1
0.00

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SCS Curve Number Method

(Indirect Method)

P 0.2 S
P 0.8 S

1000
10
CN

(Q, P, S, in inches)

25400
254
CN

(Q, P, S, in mm)

Q = runoff (in)
P = rainfall (in)
S = potential maximum retention after runoff begins (in)
CN = Curve number reflects soil and cover conditions (0-100)

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Figure. Graphical Solution of SCS Method.

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Advantages of SCS Method

It is a well established reliable method.

It is computationally efficient.
The required input is generally available.
Various soil types, land use and management
practices can be conveniently handled.

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Runoff Curve Numbers

CN is a runoff curve number and can be evaluated from

Tables developed by USSCS.

The curve number is a dimensionless number defined such

that 0 CN 100. For impervious and water surfaces CN
= 100; for natural surfaces CN < 100.

The curve number is a function of the following runoffproducing catchment properties:

1. Hydrologic soil group
2. Land use and treatment
3. Ground surface condition
4. Antecedent moisture condition
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1. Hydrologic Soil groups

All soils are classified into four hydrologic soil groups of
distinct runoff-producing properties. These groups are labeled
A, B, C and D. Following is the brief of their runoff and
infiltration properties:

A Lowest runoff potential (Greater than 0.30 in/hr)

B Moderately low runoff potential (0.15 0.30 in/hr)
C Moderately high runoff potential (0.05 0.15 in/hr)

D Highest runoff potential (0 0.05 in/hr)

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2. Land Use and Treatment

The

effect of the surface conditions of a watershed is

evaluated by means of land use and treatment classes.

Land use belongs to watershed cover, including every kind

of vegetation, fallow (bare soil), as well as nonagricultural
uses such as water surfaces (lakes, swamps), impervious
surfaces (roads, roof, and the like), and urban areas .

Land treatment applies mainly to agricultural land uses,

and it includes mechanical practices such as contouring or
terracing and management practices such as grazing control
and crop rotation.

A class of land use/treatment is a combination often found

in a literature.
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3. Ground surface (Hydrologic) condition

Hydrologic condition is based on combination of factors that affect
infiltration and runoff, including:
(a) density and canopy of vegetative areas,
(b) amount of year-round cover,
(c) amount of grass or close-seed legumes in rotations,
(d) percent of residue cover on the land surface
(e) degree of roughness

Poor: Factors impair infiltration and tend to increase runoff

Good: Factors encourage average and better than average infiltration
and tend to decrease runoff.

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4. Antecedent Moisture Conditions (AMC)

Antecedent Moisture Conditions are grouped into three categories:

AMC I - Low moisture

AMC II - Average moisture condition, normally used for annual flood estimates
AMC III - High moisture, heavy rainfall over preceding few days

4.2 CN(II)
CN(I)
10 0.058 CN(II)

CN(III)

23 CN(II)
10 0.13 CN(II)

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Example 2
Determine the weighted curve for a watershed with 40% residential
(1/4-acre lots), 25 % open space, good condition, 20% commercial and
business (85% impervious), and 15% industrial (72% impervious),
with corresponding soil groups of C, D, C, and D.

Solution
The corresponding curve numbers are obtained from SCS Tables.
Land Use

Soil Group

Curve Number

40 %

83

25 %

80

20 %

94

15 %

93

The weighted curve number is

CN = 0.40(83) + 0.25(80) + 0.20 (94) + 0.15 (93)

CN = 33.2 + 20 + 18.8 + 13.95 = 85.95 = 86
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Example 3
The watershed in example 2 experienced a rainfall of 6 in, what is the
runoff volume?

Solution
CN = 86

P = 6 inches

S = 1000/ CN - 10 = 1.63

P 0.2 S
P 0.8 S

Q = 4.41 inches

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