Water measurement is a crucial aspect of various industries, including agriculture, water management, and environmental science. When dealing with large volumes of water, different units of measurement are used, such as acre-foot per year (AFY) and gallons per hour (GPH).
If you need to convert 70.5 acre-foot per year (AFY) to gallons per hour (GPH) accurately, this guide will walk you through the entire process step by step.
Understanding the Units of Measurement
Before converting, it’s essential to understand what each unit represents.
What is an Acre-Foot per Year (AFY)?
An acre-foot is a unit of volume commonly used in the United States to measure large amounts of water, particularly for irrigation and water resource management.
- 1 acre-foot = The volume of water needed to cover 1 acre of land with 1 foot of water.
- 1 acre-foot = 325,851 gallons
- Acre-foot per year (AFY) = The flow rate required to deliver one acre-foot of water over a one-year period.
What is Gallons per Hour (GPH)?
Gallons per hour (GPH) is a measure of flow rate, often used for irrigation systems, pumps, and plumbing applications. It represents the number of gallons that flow in one hour.
Step-by-Step Conversion Process
Now, let’s break down the conversion from 70.5 AFY to GPH systematically.
Step 1: Convert Acre-Foot per Year to Gallons per Year
We know that:1 AF=325,851 gallons1 \text{ AF} = 325,851 \text{ gallons}1 AF=325,851 gallons
So, multiplying by 70.5:70.5×325,851=22,974,415.5 gallons per year70.5 \times 325,851 = 22,974,415.5 \text{ gallons per year}70.5×325,851=22,974,415.5 gallons per year
Step 2: Convert Gallons per Year to Gallons per Hour
Since we need GPH, we must divide by the number of hours in a year:1 year=365 days×24 hours=8,760 hours1 \text{ year} = 365 \text{ days} \times 24 \text{ hours} = 8,760 \text{ hours}1 year=365 days×24 hours=8,760 hours
Now, dividing the total gallons per year by the number of hours in a year:22,974,415.58,760≈2,624.94 GPH\frac{22,974,415.5}{8,760} \approx 2,624.94 \text{ GPH}8,76022,974,415.5≈2,624.94 GPH
Final Answer
So, 70.5 acre-foot per year (AFY) is approximately 2,624.94 gallons per hour (GPH).70.5 AFY≈2,624.94 GPH\mathbf{70.5 \text{ AFY} \approx 2,624.94 \text{ GPH}}70.5 AFY≈2,624.94 GPH
Why This Conversion is Important
This conversion is useful in many practical applications, including:
- Irrigation Planning – Knowing the flow rate helps in selecting proper pumps and designing efficient irrigation systems.
- Water Resource Management – Ensuring sustainable water distribution for cities and agriculture.
- Hydrology & Engineering – Used in environmental studies and hydrological models.
FAQs
1. Can I use an online calculator for this conversion?
Yes, but understanding the manual process helps verify accuracy and troubleshoot discrepancies.
2. Is the conversion factor always the same?
Yes, 1 acre-foot = 325,851 gallons, and the number of hours in a year remains constant at 8,760 hours.
3. What if I need the answer in gallons per minute (GPM)?
To convert to GPM, divide 2,624.94 GPH by 60 (since there are 60 minutes in an hour):2,624.9460≈43.75 GPM\frac{2,624.94}{60} \approx 43.75 \text{ GPM}602,624.94≈43.75 GPM
Conclusion
Converting 70.5 acre-foot per year to gallons per hour is straightforward when you understand the process. By using the standard conversion factor, we determined that:70.5 AFY≈2,624.94 GPH70.5 \text{ AFY} \approx 2,624.94 \text{ GPH}70.5 AFY≈2,624.94 GPH
This calculation is essential for various industries, from agriculture to engineering. Whether you’re working on water management projects or setting up irrigation systems, accurate conversions ensure efficiency and sustainability.