Deficit and Constant Loss Model

The Deficit and Constant Loss Model is based on the HEC-HMS model described in the HEC-HMS Users's Manual (2010).

This method models the surface as a single soil layer in which incident rainfall is initially stored and which is subject to evaporative loss (defined in the Rainfall Event). When the soil layer reaches saturation capacity, infiltration may occur. When used as a runoff volume model, any excess rainfall goes to runoff.

Using the Deficit and Constant Loss model for runoff volume

To use the Deficit and Constant Loss model, set the Runoff Volume Type field of the Runoff Surface to DefConLoss.

The following parameters are used by this model:

To model the impervious proportion of the subcatchment, define a separate fixed runoff surface.

Total storage is calculated as:

Total storage = Surface storage + Net rainfall

Net rainfall is calculated as:

Net rainfall = Rainfall - Evaporation

If Total storage > 0 and saturation deficit > 0

If Total storage > saturation deficit:

Available rainfall = Total storage - Deficit

Deficit = 0

Runoff = max(0, Available rainfall - Infiltration loss coefficient * timestep)

Infiltration =min(Deficit + Infiltration loss coefficient * timestep, Total storage)

If Total storage ≤ saturation deficit:

Deficit = Deficit - Total storage

Runoff = 0

Infiltration = Total storage

If Total storage > 0 and saturation deficit = 0

Runoff = max(0, Total storage - Infiltration loss coefficient * timestep)

Infiltration = min(Infiltration loss coefficient * timestep, Total storage)

If Total storage ≤ 0

Deficit = min(Maximum deficit, Deficit - Net rainfall)

Infiltration = 0

Using the Deficit and Constant Loss model for infiltration (2D)

To use Deficit and Constant Loss to model 2D infiltration, set the Infiltration type field of the Infiltration surface (2D) to DefConLoss.

The following parameters are used by this model:

When used for modelling 2D infiltration, the models behaves almost the same as it does for modelling runoff volume (described previously), except for the following:

When infiltration is calculated, the 2D element depth will have already been updated to include any rainfall onto the element.