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Common Water Measurements

Mark Twain is generally credited for the saying, “Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over.”  While the source of this quote might be disputed, the message is very perceptive.

In today’s environmental climate, water is a big deal, especially in areas like the American southwest where there are shortages of water.  Rural interests are pitted against muncipal interests; agricultural groups are battling environmental groups.  Rights to water are increasingly litigated.

Standard Water Measurements.

People who research water are often confronted with measurements that might not make sense, like AFA, or CFS or GPM.  Here are some common water flow rate and volume measurements:

• AFA means acre-feet per annum.  Visualize an acre of land.  One acre-foot is the volume of water sufficient to cover that acre of land to a depth of 1 foot.  Typically, four people will use one acre-foot of water per year.

• CFS refers to cubic feet per second, and is used to measure the flow rate of rivers and streams.

• GPM is another measurement of flow, and refers to gallons per minute.  You’ll see this flow rate used for domestic consumption.

• MI means miner’s inches. The MI standard varies from state to state, and it is not used much anymore.  It is the measurement of the rate of water flow in a miner’s sluice. Flow was measured by a hole one inch square with a head of one inch. Generally, one miner’s inch is a flow of 1.5 cubic feet per minute. You will find references to “miner’s inches” in old water right filings and notices, as well as older decrees governing water rights. With the development of large-scale mining technologies and irrigation uses, water demand increased and the old miner’s inch measurement became an inadequate way to measure flow rates. The miner’s inch  was replaced by cubic feet per second.

How Much Water Does a Person or Animal Use Per Day?

The State of Arizona has some standard water use quantities that it uses in calculating water consumption.  According to its general standards, each person uses 180 gallons of water a day for domestic purposes.  Where people such as the Navajo have to haul water, they use much less — typically, 15-20 gallons a day.

Horses and cattle drink about 12 gallons of water each day.  Pigs consume about 2.5 gallons a day and sheep drink one and one-half gallons of water a day.

How to Calculate Your Water Flow or Volume.

Western-Water offers free water flow and volume calculators that can convert gallons-per-minute into AFA, miner’s inches to CFS and so on.  If you have to file claims for your water, these calculators will come in handy.

Water is Critical.

Water is essential for life on planet earth.  This is a precious natural resource that must be managed prudently.  At Western-Water.com, you’ll find interesting news snippets about some of the hot topics facing the western states.  Press releases and story submissions about water are always welcome.  Water is an important topic that affects all of us.

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