Inlet (Water Overlay)

Inlets are hydraulic structures that can pump water in to the hydrological model, or out of, in which case they function as Outlets. It will add or remove water at a defined maximum rate, with optional thresholds for the amount of water to add or remove.

An Inlet is by default a point-based building, but can optionally be an area-based building.

Icon	Key	Unit	Range	Description	Default value
	INLET_Q	m3/sec		The maximum amount of water flowing into the model through this Inlet. A negative value means the building functions as an outlet, and water is removed from the hydrological model.	0
	INLET_AREA	boolean		When true the Inlet is spread across the entire building surface.	0
	INLET_CAPACITY	m3		The maximum amount of water which can flow in or out through this Building. Water flowing back in the other direction replenishes the capacity.	0
	LOWER_THRESHOLD	m + datum		If a lower threshold is set, water will only flow into the model through this inlet until the water level at the point of this Inlet is equal to or greater than the threshold. If the threshold is not set, the amount of water flowing in is not limited in this fashion.	None
	UPPER_THRESHOLD	m + datum		If an upper threshold is set, water will only flow out of the model through this inlet until the water level at the point of this Inlet is equal to or less than the threshold. If the threshold is not set, the amount of water flowing out is not limited in this fashion.	None
	UNDERGROUND	boolean		When true the Inlet is connected to the groundwater.	false

Notes

• Most Inlet attributes function as a limit to the flow. If multiple are defined, the flow is limited by the strongest limit. If neither an INLET_Q or any threshold is defined, there will be no flow.
• A negative INLET_Q changes the Inlet to an Outlet.
• The lower and upper thresholds can be seen as a the lowest and highest of "range" of valid water levels. If the actual water level does not fall in the specified range, the Inlet will allow water to flow in or out (depending on the configuration) to correct the water level.
• A Pump is different from an Inlet in that a pump has two endpoints (or areas) within the project areas, whereas an Inlet has an end point (or area) within the project area and an endpoint (or area) outside the project area; a conceptual external area with a size and a water level.

How-to's

• How to correct inlets on land
• How to use outlets to remove water on the edges of your project
• How to correct multiple buildings on the same location

See also

• Inlet formula (Water Overlay)

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Water Module

Water Module

Tutorials

Overview

Theory

Benchmarks

Group

Hydraulic structures

Inlet

Inlet q • Inlet area • Inlet capacity •  Lower threshold •  Upper threshold • Inlet underground

Pump

Pump q •  Lower threshold •  Upper threshold • Pump angle • Pump capacity • Pump area

Culvert

Culvert diameter • Culvert rectangular height • Culvert threshold • Culvert n

Weir

Weir height • Weir width • Weir angle • Weir coefficient • Weir target level

Sewer overflow

Sewer overflow • Sewer overflow speed

Drainage

Drainage q • Drainage datum • Drainage active • Drainage overflow threshold

Output

Object flow output • Object height output • Object datum output a • Object datum output b • Object width output

Related

Building attributes • Hydrological features •  Terrain attributes • Model attributes • Results • Simulation data