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.
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.
Gallons per minute | Cubic feet per second |
---|---|
0
gal/min
|
0
ft³/s
|
10
gal/min
|
0.0222801
ft³/s
|
20
gal/min
|
0.0445602
ft³/s
|
30
gal/min
|
0.0668403
ft³/s
|
40
gal/min
|
0.0891204
ft³/s
|
50
gal/min
|
0.111401
ft³/s
|
60
gal/min
|
0.133681
ft³/s
|
70
gal/min
|
0.155961
ft³/s
|
80
gal/min
|
0.178241
ft³/s
|
90
gal/min
|
0.200521
ft³/s
|
100
gal/min
|
0.222801
ft³/s
|
110
gal/min
|
0.245081
ft³/s
|
120
gal/min
|
0.267361
ft³/s
|
130
gal/min
|
0.289641
ft³/s
|
140
gal/min
|
0.311921
ft³/s
|
150
gal/min
|
0.334202
ft³/s
|
160
gal/min
|
0.356482
ft³/s
|
170
gal/min
|
0.378762
ft³/s
|
180
gal/min
|
0.401042
ft³/s
|
190
gal/min
|
0.423322
ft³/s
|
200
gal/min
|
0.445602
ft³/s
|
210
gal/min
|
0.467882
ft³/s
|
220
gal/min
|
0.490162
ft³/s
|
230
gal/min
|
0.512442
ft³/s
|
240
gal/min
|
0.534722
ft³/s
|
250
gal/min
|
0.557003
ft³/s
|
260
gal/min
|
0.579283
ft³/s
|
270
gal/min
|
0.601563
ft³/s
|
280
gal/min
|
0.623843
ft³/s
|
290
gal/min
|
0.646123
ft³/s
|
300
gal/min
|
0.668403
ft³/s
|
310
gal/min
|
0.690683
ft³/s
|
320
gal/min
|
0.712963
ft³/s
|
330
gal/min
|
0.735243
ft³/s
|
340
gal/min
|
0.757524
ft³/s
|
350
gal/min
|
0.779804
ft³/s
|
360
gal/min
|
0.802084
ft³/s
|
370
gal/min
|
0.824364
ft³/s
|
380
gal/min
|
0.846644
ft³/s
|
390
gal/min
|
0.868924
ft³/s
|
400
gal/min
|
0.891204
ft³/s
|
410
gal/min
|
0.913484
ft³/s
|
420
gal/min
|
0.935764
ft³/s
|
430
gal/min
|
0.958044
ft³/s
|
440
gal/min
|
0.980325
ft³/s
|
450
gal/min
|
1.0026
ft³/s
|
460
gal/min
|
1.02488
ft³/s
|
470
gal/min
|
1.04716
ft³/s
|
480
gal/min
|
1.06944
ft³/s
|
490
gal/min
|
1.09173
ft³/s
|
500
gal/min
|
1.11401
ft³/s
|
510
gal/min
|
1.13629
ft³/s
|
520
gal/min
|
1.15857
ft³/s
|
530
gal/min
|
1.18085
ft³/s
|
540
gal/min
|
1.20313
ft³/s
|
550
gal/min
|
1.22541
ft³/s
|
560
gal/min
|
1.24769
ft³/s
|
570
gal/min
|
1.26997
ft³/s
|
580
gal/min
|
1.29225
ft³/s
|
590
gal/min
|
1.31453
ft³/s
|
600
gal/min
|
1.33681
ft³/s
|
610
gal/min
|
1.35909
ft³/s
|
620
gal/min
|
1.38137
ft³/s
|
630
gal/min
|
1.40365
ft³/s
|
640
gal/min
|
1.42593
ft³/s
|
650
gal/min
|
1.44821
ft³/s
|
660
gal/min
|
1.47049
ft³/s
|
670
gal/min
|
1.49277
ft³/s
|
680
gal/min
|
1.51505
ft³/s
|
690
gal/min
|
1.53733
ft³/s
|
700
gal/min
|
1.55961
ft³/s
|
710
gal/min
|
1.58189
ft³/s
|
720
gal/min
|
1.60417
ft³/s
|
730
gal/min
|
1.62645
ft³/s
|
740
gal/min
|
1.64873
ft³/s
|
750
gal/min
|
1.67101
ft³/s
|
760
gal/min
|
1.69329
ft³/s
|
770
gal/min
|
1.71557
ft³/s
|
780
gal/min
|
1.73785
ft³/s
|
790
gal/min
|
1.76013
ft³/s
|
800
gal/min
|
1.78241
ft³/s
|
810
gal/min
|
1.80469
ft³/s
|
820
gal/min
|
1.82697
ft³/s
|
830
gal/min
|
1.84925
ft³/s
|
840
gal/min
|
1.87153
ft³/s
|
850
gal/min
|
1.89381
ft³/s
|
860
gal/min
|
1.91609
ft³/s
|
870
gal/min
|
1.93837
ft³/s
|
880
gal/min
|
1.96065
ft³/s
|
890
gal/min
|
1.98293
ft³/s
|
900
gal/min
|
2.00521
ft³/s
|
910
gal/min
|
2.02749
ft³/s
|
920
gal/min
|
2.04977
ft³/s
|
930
gal/min
|
2.07205
ft³/s
|
940
gal/min
|
2.09433
ft³/s
|
950
gal/min
|
2.11661
ft³/s
|
960
gal/min
|
2.13889
ft³/s
|
970
gal/min
|
2.16117
ft³/s
|
980
gal/min
|
2.18345
ft³/s
|
990
gal/min
|
2.20573
ft³/s
|
1000
gal/min
|
2.22801
ft³/s
|
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