Chapter six

Planning of hydrometric networks

Raingauge Network design
Ideally a basin should have as many as possible
number of gauges to give a clear picture of the
Arial rainfall.
However, the following factors govern the density
of station in a country.
Economy
Topography
Accessibility
No definite rule as how many gauges are
adequate.
Various countries have different stations density
Israel has the highest density (1station/26km.sq) and
Vietnam has the lowest (1staion/2600 sq.km)
Typical Network
 Recent recommendation (WMO,
1994)
Physiographic unit Minimum density per station (area in
sq.km /station)
Non-recording Recording
Coastal 900 9000
Mountainous 250 2500
Interior plains 575 5750
Hilly/Undulating 575 5750
Small islands 25 250
Urban areas 10 20
Polar/Arid 10,000 100,000
Optimum number of rain gauges stations
The following statistical analysis help to obtain
number of gauges for a basin optimally
On the basis of an assigned % of error in estimating the
mean aerial rainfall
2

Cv

N

Ep

N = is the optimal number of stations
Ep = the allowable % of error in the estimation of MAR
Cv = the coefficient of variation of the rainfall from the
existing stations in %
The allowable % of error is normally taken as 10%
If N > n, (N-n) additional no. of stations are required
 Ideal Location for a Rain Gauge Station

While setting up any rain Gauge station the following points

should be noted.
The site should be on a level ground, i.e., slopping ground, hill tops
or hill slopes are not suitable.
The site should be an open space.
Horizontal distance between the rain gauge and the nearest objects
should be twice the height of the objects.
Site should be away from continuous wind forces.
Other meteorological instruments and the fencing of the site should
maintain the step (iii) above.
The site should be easily accessible. (vii) The gauge should be truly
vertical.
Ten percent of total number of rain gauge stations of any basin
should be self-recording.
The observer must visit the site regularly to ensure its proper
readiness for measurement.
 Streamgauge Network design
There is no definite relation or rule to the number
of stations to establish
A basin should have two types of stations
i the base or permanent stations:
For which long term data for the important tributaries
and the main rivers are always collected
ii auxiliary or secondary station:
To collect short term data and form network
The stations should be located at existing or potential
dam site, flood forecasting purpose
Data from this station are correlated with data from
primary stations to extend the record
General considerations in selection of gauge sites

Access
Seasonal vegetation
Stable cross section
No backwater from downstream controls
 Requirement of a good H- Q site
The river reach must be stable and fairly straight on both u/s
and d/s for a length of 0.75 to 1km
H-Q relation should always be uniform site is subjected to
shift control
Easily accessible during all the time of the year
The site should be sensitive to all H-Q
Back water and tidal effects should be minimum
When a tributary joins, the site should be located 0.8 km u/s
and d/s of their confluence
Disturbance due to animals should be minimum
Site should have stable and high banks to contain floods
Rock outcrops and vegetal growth at the reach should be minimum
 Requirement of a good H- Q site

Islands should not be present at the gauging station

Cross section of the entire reach of the river should be
fairly uniform, straight and stable
Cross currents, vortex and eddies formation, reverse slope
in parts of the channel bed should be absent at the site
Velocity at all points are parallel to one another and at right
angle to the x-section of the stream
The velocity is greater than 0.15m/s
The depth of the flow is greater than 0.3m
No aquatic growth
Recommended site for curved rivers
 Water level gauge network design
Water levels may be considered the basis for any river study.
Water levels are obtained from gauges, either by direct
observation or in recorded form. The data can serve several
purposes:
to obtain hydrograph and used to prepare duration curve
indicating the probability of occurrence of water levels at the
station considered,
By Combining gauge readings with discharge values, a stage
discharge relation can be determined,
From the readings of a number of gauges stage relation
curves can be derived
for purpose of navigation, flood prediction, water
management and waste water disposal.
 SELECTION OF GAUGE SITES
the site should be accessible to a gauge reader
during extreme low water levels the gauge should
still be in open connection with the river and
should not be dried;
during extreme high water levels the gauge should
not be overflowed;
damaging of the gauge by ships, floating debris or
sliding of the river bank should be prevented
Free from backwater effects
one or two levelled bench-marks should be near,
for a regular check of the gauge datum
 Worksheet
1. A sub-basin has six number of rain gauges. Annual
rainfall recorded by the gauges are given below.
Considering 10% error in the estimation of mean annual
rainfall (MAR), calculate optimum number of gauges
required for the sub-basin and check if the present
network is sufficient

station A B C D E F
Annual 102 77 84 53 66 80
rainfall,
cm
 Worksheet
2. A sub-basin with an area of 1038 sq.km has 7 stations.
the normal annual rainfall depths for all the 7 stations
are given below. Determine the optimum number of rain
gauge stations to be established in the basin if it is
desired to limit the error in the mean value of rainfall to
10%. Indicate how you are going to distribute the
additional gauge stations (if required). Is it possible to
have zero % error in the estimate of the mean value?

station A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7
Normal annual 62 94 62 47 32 88 70
rainfall, cm
 Worksheet
3.How many rain gauge stations do we have in our
country, Ethiopia? Which river basin of Ethiopia do
you think is the most gauged one and which one the
least gauged basin?
4.How many stream gauges do we have in our
country, Ethiopia? Which one is the common stream
measuring method in Ethiopia?
 worksheet
5. If you are required to measure discharge under difficult conditions
(such as mountainous rivers), describe the hydraulic condition of the
reaches and suggestion how you can proceed to measure discharge?
6. Your organization wants to establish a rating curve for newly
established gauging station in remote reach of Beles River. Show clearly
the procedure to establish the rating curve. The discharge of the river is
above 100 m3/s and the river has a depth of 2 to 5 m depending on the
seasons. How long it take to create a working rating curve and Why?
Thank You