What this tool does
Separate average daily source capacity from short peak demand so a favorable daily balance is not mistaken for adequate instantaneous supply.
When to use it
Use after a defensible sustained-yield test and a demand schedule are available, before sizing storage or selecting a pump flow.
Inputs and supported units
Each labelled field explains the quantity it expects. Unit-system changes convert existing numeric entries once and keep calculations on a single SI internal basis. Supported shared units include L/min and GPM, metres and feet, kPa and psi, millimetres and inches, kW and hp, and °C and °F as relevant.
Calculation or decision method
How to interpret the result
Read the primary result with the supporting breakdown and warning. A plausible number is not evidence that every input, operating case or design constraint has been included.
Worked example
A 12 L/min well pumped 10 hours can produce 7,200 L/day. A 30 L/min demand for 90 minutes needs 2,700 L while the well contributes 1,080 L, leaving a 1,620 L peak gap before reserve and existing storage.
Assumptions
The entered yield is sustainable for the pumping schedule and demand periods can be approximated by the entered peak rate and duration.
Limitations
A one-day balance does not model seasonal recharge, well recovery, water quality, pump protection or multiple demand peaks.
Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey — Basic Ground-Water Hydrology
- U.S. Geological Survey — Water Resources Glossary
- U.S. EPA — Emergency Drinking Water Supply Guidance