A cubic foot per second (cfs) is a unit of flow rate that describes the volume of water or other fluids moving past a point every second. It is commonly used in hydrology to measure rivers and streams, providing insight into water availability and flood prediction. To put it in perspective, one cubic foot per second is equivalent to 7.48 gallons per second. Thus, a modest stream might flow at several tens of cfs, while larger rivers, such as the Mississippi, can exceed 500,000 cfs!
Interestingly, this unit has historical significance dating back to the early days of water management, where it played a crucial role in the development of infrastructure for agriculture and urban planning, influencing patterns of settlement and economic development around the world.
Gallon per minute (GPM) is a crucial unit in measuring flow rate, especially in the context of plumbing, irrigation, and various industrial applications. Originally rooted in the British Imperial system, the gallon has a rich history with variations across countries—such as the US liquid gallon, which is approximately 3.785 liters, and the UK gallon, which is around 4.546 liters. This means that when considering flow rates, the distinction between these gallons can lead to significant differences in calculation and application.
What’s particularly fascinating about GPM is its pivotal role in modern sustainability efforts. For example, showerheads in the United States are often rated by their GPM to help reduce water usage and promote conservation. Low-flow fixtures, which typically limit water flow to 2.5 GPM or less, have become a standard in reducing both water waste and energy costs, highlighting the intersection of environmental responsibility and engineering.
Cubic feet per second | Gallons per minute |
---|---|
0
ft³/s
|
0
gal/min
|
1
ft³/s
|
448.83094
gal/min
|
2
ft³/s
|
897.66188
gal/min
|
3
ft³/s
|
1346.49281
gal/min
|
4
ft³/s
|
1795.32375
gal/min
|
5
ft³/s
|
2244.15469
gal/min
|
6
ft³/s
|
2692.98563
gal/min
|
7
ft³/s
|
3141.81656
gal/min
|
8
ft³/s
|
3590.6475
gal/min
|
9
ft³/s
|
4039.47844
gal/min
|
10
ft³/s
|
4488.30938
gal/min
|
11
ft³/s
|
4937.14031
gal/min
|
12
ft³/s
|
5385.97125
gal/min
|
13
ft³/s
|
5834.80219
gal/min
|
14
ft³/s
|
6283.63313
gal/min
|
15
ft³/s
|
6732.46406
gal/min
|
16
ft³/s
|
7181.295
gal/min
|
17
ft³/s
|
7630.12594
gal/min
|
18
ft³/s
|
8078.95688
gal/min
|
19
ft³/s
|
8527.78781
gal/min
|
20
ft³/s
|
8976.61875
gal/min
|
21
ft³/s
|
9425.44969
gal/min
|
22
ft³/s
|
9874.28063
gal/min
|
23
ft³/s
|
10323.11156
gal/min
|
24
ft³/s
|
10771.9425
gal/min
|
25
ft³/s
|
11220.77344
gal/min
|
26
ft³/s
|
11669.60438
gal/min
|
27
ft³/s
|
12118.43531
gal/min
|
28
ft³/s
|
12567.26625
gal/min
|
29
ft³/s
|
13016.09719
gal/min
|
30
ft³/s
|
13464.92813
gal/min
|
31
ft³/s
|
13913.75906
gal/min
|
32
ft³/s
|
14362.59
gal/min
|
33
ft³/s
|
14811.42094
gal/min
|
34
ft³/s
|
15260.25188
gal/min
|
35
ft³/s
|
15709.08281
gal/min
|
36
ft³/s
|
16157.91375
gal/min
|
37
ft³/s
|
16606.74469
gal/min
|
38
ft³/s
|
17055.57563
gal/min
|
39
ft³/s
|
17504.40656
gal/min
|
40
ft³/s
|
17953.2375
gal/min
|
41
ft³/s
|
18402.06844
gal/min
|
42
ft³/s
|
18850.89938
gal/min
|
43
ft³/s
|
19299.73031
gal/min
|
44
ft³/s
|
19748.56125
gal/min
|
45
ft³/s
|
20197.39219
gal/min
|
46
ft³/s
|
20646.22313
gal/min
|
47
ft³/s
|
21095.05406
gal/min
|
48
ft³/s
|
21543.885
gal/min
|
49
ft³/s
|
21992.71594
gal/min
|
50
ft³/s
|
22441.54688
gal/min
|
51
ft³/s
|
22890.37781
gal/min
|
52
ft³/s
|
23339.20875
gal/min
|
53
ft³/s
|
23788.03969
gal/min
|
54
ft³/s
|
24236.87063
gal/min
|
55
ft³/s
|
24685.70156
gal/min
|
56
ft³/s
|
25134.5325
gal/min
|
57
ft³/s
|
25583.36344
gal/min
|
58
ft³/s
|
26032.19438
gal/min
|
59
ft³/s
|
26481.02531
gal/min
|
60
ft³/s
|
26929.85625
gal/min
|
61
ft³/s
|
27378.68719
gal/min
|
62
ft³/s
|
27827.51813
gal/min
|
63
ft³/s
|
28276.34906
gal/min
|
64
ft³/s
|
28725.18
gal/min
|
65
ft³/s
|
29174.01094
gal/min
|
66
ft³/s
|
29622.84188
gal/min
|
67
ft³/s
|
30071.67281
gal/min
|
68
ft³/s
|
30520.50375
gal/min
|
69
ft³/s
|
30969.33469
gal/min
|
70
ft³/s
|
31418.16563
gal/min
|
71
ft³/s
|
31866.99656
gal/min
|
72
ft³/s
|
32315.8275
gal/min
|
73
ft³/s
|
32764.65844
gal/min
|
74
ft³/s
|
33213.48938
gal/min
|
75
ft³/s
|
33662.32031
gal/min
|
76
ft³/s
|
34111.15125
gal/min
|
77
ft³/s
|
34559.98219
gal/min
|
78
ft³/s
|
35008.81313
gal/min
|
79
ft³/s
|
35457.64406
gal/min
|
80
ft³/s
|
35906.475
gal/min
|
81
ft³/s
|
36355.30594
gal/min
|
82
ft³/s
|
36804.13688
gal/min
|
83
ft³/s
|
37252.96781
gal/min
|
84
ft³/s
|
37701.79875
gal/min
|
85
ft³/s
|
38150.62969
gal/min
|
86
ft³/s
|
38599.46063
gal/min
|
87
ft³/s
|
39048.29156
gal/min
|
88
ft³/s
|
39497.1225
gal/min
|
89
ft³/s
|
39945.95344
gal/min
|
90
ft³/s
|
40394.78438
gal/min
|
91
ft³/s
|
40843.61531
gal/min
|
92
ft³/s
|
41292.44625
gal/min
|
93
ft³/s
|
41741.27719
gal/min
|
94
ft³/s
|
42190.10813
gal/min
|
95
ft³/s
|
42638.93906
gal/min
|
96
ft³/s
|
43087.77
gal/min
|
97
ft³/s
|
43536.60094
gal/min
|
98
ft³/s
|
43985.43188
gal/min
|
99
ft³/s
|
44434.26281
gal/min
|
100
ft³/s
|
44883.09375
gal/min
|
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