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Storage for uniform inflow over 24 hours

Short answer

Assuming the unclear demand values are 0.67 and 1.33 ML, total demand is 4.84 ML and uniform inflow is 0.2017 ML/h. Mass-curve gives maximum surplus 0.46 ML and maximum deficit 0.27 ML, so storage required ≈ 0.73 ML (730 m³).

Calculate the storage required to supply the demand shown in the following table if the inflow of water to the reservoir is maintained at a uniform rate throughout 24 hours.

Time (hours)00-0404-0808-1212-1616-2020-24
Demand (million litres)0.480.[?]71.[?]31.000.820.54

Given data

  • Demand in million litres for six 4-hour periods: 0.48, 0.67, 1.33, 1.00, 0.82, 0.54
  • Two digits are unclear in the question paper; they are read as 0.67 and 1.33. Total demand = 4.84 ML
  • Inflow is uniform over 24 h: 4.84/24 = 0.2017 ML/h = 0.8067 ML per 4 h

Mass-curve table (analytical method)

Inflow: 0.807 ML per 4-hour period. Time is counted from the start of the first demand period; a positive cumulative value means surplus in the tank.

TimeDemand (ML)Inflow (ML)Inflow − demandCumulative
00:00–04:000.480.81+0.33+0.33
04:00–08:000.670.81+0.14+0.46
08:00–12:001.330.81-0.52-0.06
12:00–16:001.000.81-0.19-0.25
16:00–20:000.820.81-0.01-0.27
20:00–00:000.540.81+0.27-0.00

Total demand = 4.84 ML; total inflow = 4.84 ML.

Capacity

  • Maximum cumulative surplus = 0.46 ML
  • Maximum cumulative deficit = 0.27 ML
  • Balancing capacity = max. surplus + max. deficit = 0.46 + 0.27 = 0.73 ML

Answer: Storage required ≈ 0.73 ML (730 m³). If the unclear digits are different, repeat the same table with the correct values: capacity = maximum surplus + maximum deficit of the cumulative column.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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