WMS:Orange County Rational Method

WMS includes an interface to the Orange County Rational Method which can be used for computing peak flows on small, mostly urban watersheds. The interface includes the capability to combine runoff from multiple basins.

Use the Orange County rational method to determine runoff rates for watersheds with an area less than or equal to 1 square mile (640 acres) or to estimate time of concentration (Tc) for an Orange County unit hydrograph analysis for any size watershed. Infiltration is accounted for in the losses rather than just using the standard runoff coefficient (based on percent impervious) in the rational equation. Complex reach routing is also factored into the determination of Tc.

Tc is determined at a concentration point by determining the combination of sub-area Tc and routing travel time that produce maximum flow. Given a time of concentration for the outlet, a rainfall intensity can be determined from a rainfall-intensity-duration curve and a peak flow computed.

All of the computations for peak flows and routing are done within WMS.

Run Simulation

Once all relevant data has been recorded and entered into a Orange County analysis, a rational method can be run. Choosing the Run Simulation command in the OC Rational menu will run a Orange County Rational analysis.

Saving a Simulation

The Save Simulation command in the OC Rational menu can be used to save the topologic tree structure with any parameters which have been defined. The Read Simulation command will restore the tree and parameters so that the user may continue with a particular model.

Related Topics

• Orange County Hydrology
• Orange County Rational Job Control
• Reach Routing
• Sub-Area Data
• Orange County Rational Equation
• Unit Hydrograph Method