How can I calculate the infiltration volume (m3) based on the harvested water in the reservoir? I have infiltration rate (mm/hr) and storage area (m2). I like to make a relation between the head of collected water with infiltration rate not with the area only?
A water balance may be what you want to look into. Infiltration rates can change with conditions to some degree. Infiltration can dip due to a severe fire, or increase with root density and depth. Areas compacted by heavy equipment will likely have less infiltration, depending on the soils. Soils with a high water table such as wetlands maybe restricted in their capacity to infiltrate water. Forested areas with deep rooting tend to have high infiltration rates, while urban areas much less. Cultivated soils can have high initial infiltration rates, but with intense rains, fines can seal macropores, slowing infiltration.
I believe these may complicate the answer, but may help increase the understanding of runoff, interflow, groundwater response, direct to delayed inputs to storage areas such as reservoir.
This is not to say that you might find relationship, but carefully define your approach and expect some storm and seasonal variability, along with geology, soils, topography, storm type/intensity and land use, vegetation, etc. if modeling different circumstances.
I struggle with your terminoology.
What is "the reservoir"? Do you speak about a cistern? Then usually, there is no "infiltration rate", but only a collection area.
If you speak about aquifers - you still must define your collection area and your "reservoir", i.e. the aquifer. For example you would have to introduce groundwater flow boundaries in your aquifer (tricky) and many other problems...
So, maybe you first let me understand your problem more precisely?...
best regards
Clemens
Dear Clemens, thanks for your respond
I am studying a water balance at RWH structures such as small dams in arid regions, but I need to calculate the water that could be downward from the harvested water in the area behind the structure? I hope it is clear now.
It seems like you need to work on the water balance.
Quantify rain in the entire area and sub-areas such as your harvesting area and the other area in question. Then define runoff coefficients for this area (from your storage dam) and aapply it for the other area.
Also take evaporation into account (probably transpiration is less important in your arid environment). Again, apply your control area (dam & storage) to the area in questiion.
And finally deduct infiltration rates from this balance, individuallly or for both together.
Of course this only applies if surface and underground conditions are strictly comparable (geology, soil, vegetation, slope, climate, etc...)
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