Davies, H.A.; (1981) The water balance of urban impermeable surfaces: catchment and process studies. Doctoral thesis , University of London.

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Abstract

An examination of research and information needs in urban hydrology suggested the investigation of urban water balances and micro- hydrological processes. This should facilitate more accurate modelling of the rainfall-runoff process from urban impermeable surfaces. Greater London data produced annual water balances for 5 heavily urbanized Thames tributaries and estimates of the annual yield ranging from 12-72%. Mean annual runoff for largely rural basins in South East England in comparison was 15-44% of rainfall. The inadequacy of the data for water balance studies led to the instrumentation of a small urbanized catchment at Redbourn, Hertfordshire. Standard meteorological measures were recorded. New instrumentation was designed to measure runoff from shallow pitched roofs while commercially produced instruments were adapted and installed to monitor runoff from a block of flat asphalt-and-chippings garage roofs, and runoff from asphalt roads and pavements at the highway drain outfall. Runoff from these impermeable surfaces is less than 100% even during winter months when evaporation is low. Percentage runoff is 76% for both the pitched and flat roofs while that from the paved surfaces is only 17%. Despite differences in slope, runoff volumes from the pitched and flat roofs are almost identical suggesting that the flat roof does not afford much greater depression storage and evaporation losses. The flat roof does however attenuate storm runoff producing lower flow rates and longer runoff duration than the pitched roofs. Road runoff is very low because of infiltration. The calculated depression storage is 0.25 mm for both roof types and 1.00 mm for the road surface. An average water balance compiled for the roofs gave evaporation as the residual 19% of rainfall. Using an average roof evaporation rate in the road surface water balance gave infiltration as 36% of rainfall with 17% runoff, 21% evaporation and 26% depression storage. Runoff from metre-square roof samples produced slightly different percentage runoff figures for the same winter period. Average percent runoff from red Redland 49 tiles (set at 30°) was 98%, grey Stonewold tiles (set at 17½°) produced 85% and asphalt roofing felt produced 38% runoff. These results are evaluated in the light of probable errors in measurements.

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