The Rational Method for Calculation of

Peak Storm Water Runoff Rate

Article by Harlan Bengtson (9,227 pts )
Edited & published by Lamar Stonecypher (20,356 pts ) on Sep 22, 2010
Related Guides: CIA

The Rational Method is used to calculate the peak surface runoff rate for design of storm
water management structures, like storm drains, storm sewers, and storm water detention
facilities. Values for the runoff coefficient, drainage area, time of concentration and
design return period are needed.

Introduction
The Rational Method is widely used to estimate the peak surface runoff rate for design of
a variety of drainage structures, such as a length of storm sewer, a storm water inlet, or a
storm water detention pond. The Rational Method is most suitable for small urban
watersheds that don't have storage such as ponds or swamps. It is best for areas less than
100 acres, but is sometimes used for up to 2 mi2 areas.

The Rational Method Equation

The equation that is the centerpiece of the Rational Method is: q = CiA, where q is the
peak surface runoff rate in cfs, from a watershed of area, A acres, and runoff coefficient,
C, due to a storm of intensity, i in/hr. The units on peak runoff rate, q, are actually acre-
in/hr, but the conversion from acre-in/hr to cfs is very nearly one, so the more common
unit, cfs, is tyically used for q. In order to calculate a value for peak runoff rate for a
given drainage area, values are needed for the three parameters, A, C, and i. Each of these
parameters will be discussed separately in the next three sections.

The Drainage Area, A

The drainage area, A, is often determined from a map which

includes the drainage area of interest. It may be necessary to first determine the
boundaries of the drainage area using a contour map. Once the boundaries are known, the
area can be determined using the map scale. Since the area must be in acres for use in the
Rational Method equation, a useful conversion factor is 43,560 ft2/acre. A map with a
drainage area outlined is shown at the left.

The Runoff Coefficient, C

The runoff coefficient is the fraction of rainfall striking the drainage area that becomes

runoff from that drainage area. It is an empirically determined

constant, dependent on the nature of the drainage area surface. An impervious surface
like a concrete parking lot will have a runoff coefficient of nearly one. A very tight clay
soil will also have a relatively high runoff coefficient, while a sandy soil would have
more infiltration and a lower runoff coefficient. In addition to the nature of the surface
and the soil, the slope of the drainage area has an effect on the runoff coefficient. A
greater slope leads to a higher runoff coefficient. There are many tables of values for
runoff coefficient for a variety of types of drainage areas in handbooks, textbooks and on
the internet. The table at the right shows some typical ranges of values for runoff
coefficient.

The Design Rainfall Intensity, i

The design rainfall intensity is the intensity of a constant intensity design storm with
the specified design return period and duration equal to the time of concentration of
the drainage area. Once the design return period and duration are determined, the design
rainfall intensity can be determined from an appropriate intensity-duration-frequency
graph or equation for the location of the drainage area. As you can see, determining a
value for i is the most complicated part of using the Rational Method. The procedure for
doing so is covered in a separate article, "Calculating Design Rainfall Intensity for Use in
the Rational Method."

Example Calculation
Consider a section of a downtown business area of 35,400 square feet that drains to a
particular storm water inlet. The runoff coefficient for this drainage area has been
estimated to be 0.85. Based on a specified design return period and the time of
concentration of the drainage area, the design storm intensity has been determined to be
5.1 in/hr. What is the peak runoff rate from this area to be used for design of the storm
water inlet?
Solution: q = CiA = (0.85)(5.1)(35,400/43,560) cfs = 3.52 cfs.

The other article in this series give information about other aspects of storm sewer
design. For an article with a downloadable Excel spreadsheet template for making storm
sewer design calculations, see "Stormwater Sewer Design using Excel Formulas in a
Spreadsheet Template."

References and Image Credits

References for further information:

1. Bengtson, Harlan H., Hydraulic Design of Storm Sewers, Including the Use of Excel,
an online, continuing education course for PDH credit.

2. McCuen, Richard H., Hydrologic Analysis and Design, 2nd Ed, Upper Saddle River,
NJ, 1998.

3. Knox County Tennessee, Stormwater Management Manual, section on the Rational

Method

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