What is the average velocity in feet per second in a channel that is 2.5ft wide with a flow rate of 7.2MGD?

To determine the average velocity in a channel given a flow rate and width, you can use the formula for calculating velocity based on the cross-sectional area and flow rate.

First, convert the flow rate from million gallons per day (MGD) to cubic feet per second (cfs). To convert MGD to cfs, you multiply the flow rate by a conversion factor:

1 MGD = 6.23 cfs.

Thus, for 7.2 MGD:

7.2 MGD * 6.23 = 44.83 cfs (approximately).

Next, calculate the cross-sectional area of the channel. If the channel is 2.5 feet wide and you assume a depth (for example, if it is a uniform depth and not specified, you might typically keep it as a variable). For simplicity, let's assume a depth of 1ft. Therefore, the cross-sectional area (A) is:

A = width * depth = 2.5ft * 1ft = 2.5 sq ft.

Now, the average velocity (V) can be calculated using the formula for velocity, which is flow rate divided by area:

V = Q / A,

where Q is the