What is the approximate volume of wastewater flowing through a 30-inch diameter pipe when half-full and flowing at about two fps?

To determine the approximate volume of wastewater flowing through a 30-inch diameter pipe when it is half-full and flowing at about two feet per second (fps), one must calculate the cross-sectional area and then the flow rate.

First, the diameter of the pipe is 30 inches, so when it is half-full, the effective diameter for the flow is 15 inches. To find the radius in feet, convert inches to feet: 15 inches is 1.25 feet.

Next, the cross-sectional area of the flow can be calculated using the formula for the area of a circle, ( A = \pi r^2 ). Thus,

[

A = \pi (1.25)^2 \approx 4.91 \text{ square feet}

]

Now, to find the flow rate in cubic feet per second (cfs), multiply the cross-sectional area by the velocity (2 fps):

[

Q = A \times v = 4.91 , \text{sq ft} \times 2 , \text{fps} \approx 9.82 , \text{cubic feet per second}

]

To convert cubic feet per second to gallons per minute (g