APPLYING THE RATIONAL FORMULA

The Rational Formula is used to estimate the stormwater peak flow rate (Q) in m 3/s for chosen
design storms. It is applicable to small urban and suburban watersheds less than 80 hectares in
surface area. The formula takes on the following form:

CiA
Q=
360

Where: Q = peak flow rate (m3/s) for surface runoff at the point of concentration for a
chosen design storm
C = composite runoff coefficient for watershed (no units)
i = storm intensity (mm/h) for the chosen design storm
A = total surface area (hectares) of watershed
360 = result of unit conversion to derive Q in m3/s

Step 1

Input: Topographic Maps; GIS Database; Aerial Photos; Digital Terrain Models
Process: Identify the drainage divide (watershed boundaries) for Point of Concentration
for the watershed under investigation. This will encompass the total surface
area contributing stormwater surface runoff to the point of concentration. See
Nathanson Chapter 3.4.
Output: Watershed boundaries and Point of Concentration

Step 2

Input: Topographic Maps; GIS Database; Aerial Photos; Plan of Subdivision for new
developments
Process: Identify the land use types, surface characteristics and types, ground cover, etc.
Categorize all surface types into one of several types for assignment of runoff
coefficients.
Output: Surface type delineation

Step 3

Input: Surface types

Process: Assign surface runoff coefficients for each land use/surface type category using
tables such as Table 9.1 in Nathanson. Most municipalities will have runoff
coefficient ranges provided in tables that are developed as part of their
municipal services design policy and procedures.
Output: Surface runoff coefficients C1 C2 C3 ….. Cn
 Surface Type C

Woodlands 0.01 to 0.20

Grasslands 0.10 to 0.25
Pavements and Roofs 0.70 to 0.95
Suburban Residential 0.25 to 0.40
Apartment Housing 0.50 to 0.70
Industrial 0.60 to 0.90
Business/Commercial 0.70 to 0.95
Source: Table 9.1 Nathanson (2015). Each land use type is represented by a range of runoff
coefficients allowing the user to determine which value is best suited for the
individual watershed being examined.

Step 4

Input: Topographic maps; GIS Database; Aerial Photos; Digital Terrain Model; Plan of
Subdivision; CAD Drawings
Process: Using software such as CAD, Civil 3D and GIS, determine the total area of each
surface/land use type within the watershed.
Output: Total areas for each surface/land use type A1 A2 A3 …. An in hectares

CAD Drawing of a small subdivision showing lots and right-of-way (roadway) allowances
Step 5

Input: Individual runoff coefficients (Cn) and surface areas (An)

Process: Determine the total watershed area (A). Determine the composite (weighted
average) runoff coefficient (C)

A=A 1 + A 2 +… An

( A 1 C 1 ) + ( A 2 C 2) + … ( A n C n )
C=
A
Output: Watershed area (A) in hectares, Composite Runoff Coefficient (C) values for use
in the Rational Formula

Step 6

Input: Topographic maps; GIS Database; Aerial Photos; Digital Terrain Model; Plan of
Subdivision; CAD Drawings; Lot/Property Boundaries and Storm sewer
preliminary layout
Process: Locate the most distant point from the point of concentration in the watershed
(see Figure 9.2 Nathanson 2015)
Output: Starting point for sheet (overland) flow to estimate inlet time

Distant Point for

sheet flow

Point of
Concentration

Step 7

Input: Topographic maps; GIS Database; Aerial Photos; Digital Terrain Model; Plan of
Subdivision; CAD Drawings. Overland flow characteristics including ground
slope, runoff coefficient, ground cover, elevation drop. Most municipalities will
have standard inlet times for typical land uses and subdivisions.
Process: Derive overland (sheet) flow time from most distant point in watershed to the
first branch in the stormwater channelized system. This could be the first
stream/ditch in a rural environment or the first sewer pipe in an urban
environment. See Figure 9.3 in Nathanson (2015) below.
Output: Inlet Time (minutes) tin
Step 8

Input: Topographic maps; GIS Database; Aerial Photos; Digital Terrain Model; Plan of
Subdivision; CAD Drawings. Branch/channel flow characteristics including slope,
branch length, elevation drop, assumed velocity. Most municipalities will have
‘target’ velocities for storm sewer systems between 0.6m/s and 6.0m/s.
Process: Derive the channel/pipe flow time for water moving from the first ‘branch’ in the
system to the point of concentration. This can be done using simple
velocity/distance relationships or using nomographs such as Figure 9.5 in
Nathanson (2015).

branc h lengt h(m) 1 ( min )

t c h= ×
m 60 ( s )
flow velocity ( )
s
Output: Channel/pipe flow time tch

Step 9

Input: Inlet time (tin) and channel time (tch)

Process: Estimate the time of concentration (in minutes) for the watershed. Time of
concentration (tc) is the total time it takes for a drop of surface water to move
from the most distant point in the watershed to the point of concentration. This
is also the desired “storm duration” with which one can derive rainfall intensity.
It is the time for the watershed to reach peak flow rate at the point of
concentration; the time for every square centimeter of watershed surface area
to contribute water to the point of concentrate, and thus the storm duration one
is interested in modelling.

t c =t ¿ +t ch

Output: Time of concentration (storm duration for design storm) in minutes

Step 10

Input: Design storm; time of concentration; IDF curves and/or equation for rainfall
intensity
Process: Calculate the rainfall intensity (mm/h) for the design storm and watershed
characteristics. Use either the IDF curves for the region, or the rainfall intensity
equation with variables a, b, k.
a
i= k
( t c+ b )
Burlington Rainfall Intensity Equation Constants
Return Coefficients
Time
a b k
(yr)
2 760 6 0.804
5 1111 7 0.837
10 1420 8 0.858
25 1728 8 0.866
50 2120 9 0.883
100 2377 9 0.886

Step 11

Input: Composite runoff coefficient; rainfall intensity for design storm; watershed area;
Rational formula
Process: Estimate peak flow rate Q (m3/s) for watershed and design storm at the point of
concentration using the Rational Formula

CiA
Q=
360

Output: Peak flow rate Q for stormwater system design purposes.

Step 12

Input: Peak Flow Rate Q; Flow velocity; Stormwater conveyance (pipe, ditch, culvert,
channel) characteristics such as slope, material, cross-sectional area,….
Process: Application of Continuity Equation and Manning’s Equation to determine desired
sewer/ditch slope, dimensions, velocity
Output: Sewer dimensions; Channel/pipe dimensions to manage peak flow rate
RATIONAL FORMULA PROBLEMS

1. A new subdivision is being treated as a separate watershed for stormwater sewer design,
and has been identified as having the following surface characteristics shown in the table
below. Using the mid-range values for runoff coefficients from Table 9.1 in Nathanson
(2015), determine the composite runoff coefficient (C) to 3 [Link]. for this water shed.

Surface Type Surface Area (hectares) Surface Runoff Coefficient

(from Table 9.1 Nathanson)
Apartment housing 16
Lawns/grassland 7
Wooded areas 20
Pavement/roofs 5

The Composite Runoff Coefficient for the entire watershed is the weighted average of the
individual surface areas, using area in hectares as the weighting factor.

Go to Table 9.1 and determine the mid-range value for C for each surface type. For example,
for apartment housing the range is seen as 0.50 to 0.70 so the mid-range is:

0.50+0.70
C apt = =0.600
2

Use the formulas provided in STEP 5 to calculate the total watershed area (A) and the
composite runoff coefficient (C):

A=A 1 + A 2 +… An

( A 1 C 1 ) + ( A 2 C 2) + … ( A n C n )
C=
A

Redo this question using the lower and higher values of the runoff coefficients in Table 9.1 to
see the lowest and highest values that can be estimated for the composite runoff coefficient.
2. A watershed with a drainage area of 65 hectares has a composite runoff coefficient of
0.260. Determine the peak flow rate Q (m3/s to 3 [Link].) that results from a 25 year
design storm with an intensity of 53.5 mm/h.

Calculate the peak flow rate from the 25 year storm using the Rational Formula. All the
variables in the formula are provided for you in the question.
C = 0.260 (higher value for a grassland/lawn surface type and lower value for a residential area)
i = 53.5 mm/h
A = 65 hectares
Rational Formula from STEP 11 above:
CiA
Q= =¿
360
3. Calculate the peak flow rate Q (in m3/s to 4 [Link].) for a 12 hectare watershed in
Burlington having the following characteristics:
Subdivision total surface area = 12 hectares
Estimated Inlet Time = 7 minutes
Sewer Branch Length = 960 meters
Estimated flow velocity in sewer branch = 1.00 m/s
Design Storm = 2 year storm
Subdivision composite runoff coefficient = 0.350
From the above information the values of C and A are already provided; but rainfall intensity
must be derived using the intensity equation and the Burlington rainfall curve constants for a 2-
year storm.
Inlet time tin is given as 7 minutes. This would typically represent the time for a drop of water
to move from the backyard of a property, down the side swales, across the front yard, into the
curb and gutter, into the catchbasin, and ultimately into the first link in the storm sewer system.
Channel time is found as described in STEP 8 above:
branc h lengt h( m) 1 ( min )
t c h= × =¿
m 60 ( s )
flow velocity ( )
s

Time of Concentration (storm duration) is therefore the total of inlet time plus channel time.
This value is rounded to the nearest minute.
t c =t ¿ +t ch

Having established a time of concentration of 23 minutes, this now become the storm duration
in the rainfall intensity equation. Use the Burlington rainfall curve constants and the intensity
equation from STEP 10 above to determine rainfall intensity in mm/h (to 1 [Link].) for a 2 year
storm.
a=
b=
k=
tc = 23 minutes
 a
i= k
=¿
( t c+ b )

Having estimated the rainfall intensity for a 2 year storm, use the Rational Formula to estimate
the peak flow rate for the 2 year design storm.
i=
C=
A=
CiA
Q= =¿
360
4. Calculate the peak flow rate Q (in m3/s to 4 [Link].) for a 5.92 hectare watershed in
Burlington having the following characteristics:
Subdivision total surface area = 5.92 hectares
Proposed Inlet Time = 15 minutes
Sewer Branch Length = 130 meters
Desired velocity in sewer branch = 1.20 m/s
Design Storm = 5 year storm
Subdivision composite runoff coefficient = 0.400
From the above information the values of C and A are already provided; but rainfall intensity
must be derived using the intensity equation and the Burlington rainfall curve constants for a 5-
year storm.
Inlet time tin is given as 15 minutes. This would typically represent the time for a drop of water
to move from the back property line of the lot furthest from the point of concentration, down
the swales, across the front, into the curb and gutter, into the catchbasin, and ultimately into
the first link in the storm sewer system. A value of 15 minutes is typical for a large property
such as a school or sports field.
Channel time is found as described in STEP 8 above:
branc h lengt h( m) 1 ( min )
t c h= × =¿
m 60 ( s )
flow velocity ( )
s

Time of Concentration (storm duration) is therefore the total of inlet time plus channel time.
This value is normally rounded to the nearest minute.
t c =t ¿ +t ch

Having established a time of concentration of 17 minutes, this now become the storm duration
in the rainfall intensity equation. Use the Burlington rainfall curve constants and the intensity
equation from STEP 10 above to determine rainfall intensity in mm/h (to 1 [Link].) for a 5-year
storm.
a=
b=
k=
tc = 17 minutes
a
i= k
=¿
( t c+ b )

Having estimated the rainfall intensity for a 5-year storm, use the Rational Formula to estimate
the peak flow rate for the 5-year design storm.
i=
C=
A=
CiA
Q= =¿
360
Solution to Q #1

Surface Type Surface Area (hectares) Surface Runoff Coefficient

(from Table 9.1 Nathanson)
Apartment housing 16 0.600
Lawns/grassland 7 0.175
Wooded areas 20 0.105
Pavement/roofs 5 0.825

A=A 1 + A 2 +… An =16+7+20+ 5=48 ha

( 16 ×0.600 ) + ( 7 × 0.175 ) + ( 20 ×0.105 )+ ( 5× 0.825 )

C= =0.355
48

Solution to Q #2

CiA ( 0.260 )( 53.5 )( 65 )

3
m
Q= = =2.5115
360 360 s

Solution to Q #3

branc h lengt h(m) 1 ( min ) 960 1

t c h= × = × =16 min
m 60 ( s ) 1.00 60
flow velocity ( )
s

t c =t ¿ +t ch =7+16=23 min

a = 760
b=6
k = 0.804
tc = 23 minutes
a 760
i= k
= 0.804
=50.7 mm /h
( t c + b ) ( 23+6 )

i = 50.7 mm/h
C = 0.350
A = 12 hectares
 CiA ( 0.350 )( 50.7 )( 12 )
3
m
Q= = =0.5915
360 360 s
Solution to Q #4

branc h lengt h(m) 1 ( min ) 130 1

t c h= × = × ≅ 2 min
m 60 ( s ) 1.20 60
flow velocity ( )
s

This channel time obviously represents the time spent by storm water in the very first links of
the storm sewer system. And is representative of a smaller watershed, possibly a business park
or industrial site based on the longer inlet time.
t c =t ¿ +t ch =15+2=17 min

a = 1111
b=7
k = 0.837
tc = 17 minutes
a 1111
i= k
= 0.837
=77.7 mm /h
( t c + b ) ( 17+7 )

i = 77.7 mm/h
C = 0.400
A = 5.92 hectares

CiA ( 0.400 )( 77.7 )( 5.92 )

3
m
Q= = =0.5111
360 360 s