Thomas Walker Jan 17, 2016:

Flow rate vs. Flow Volume Two of the most common things we want to know in hydrology are volumetric flow rate (as JoLuGo says, in units of L3/T) & flow volume (in L3). I think the basic meaning of "gasto" is volumetric flow rate, typically in cubic feet per second in the US, cubic metres per second most everywhere else; Here's from "gasto" in DRAE: ". 3.m. Fís. Cantidad de fluido que, en determinadas circunstancias, pasa por un orificio o por una tubería cada unidad de tiempo." Flow rate is important for design of pipelines, canals, & bridges. However, for a dam, we are usually more interested in the flow volume that has to be impounded behind the dam; we don't want capacity to be exceeded, resulting in the dam being overtopped. Here, it's not clear exactly what they want to know, & what they want to use it for. We may also want to know the volumetric flow rate coming to the dam, so we can evaluate how long it takes to fill, & how long it might take to draw it down if we decide to start releasing water from the impoundment, either through a low level pipe outlet, or down a spillway.
As so often, more context would really help to resolve this.

Taña Dalglish Jan 15, 2016:

@ delat Perhaps the next time you should just denote the term by using asterisks [*(term)*] rather than using your own capitalization or highlights. That way it would not give the impression that the original word(s) was/were capitalized. Regards.

delat (asker) Jan 15, 2016:

Yes, it is for Mexico. I wrote the word in capital letters, to make it stand out.

Taña Dalglish Jan 15, 2016:

@ delat Is this Mexico?
ftp://ftp.conagua.gob.mx/zapotillo/03. Hidrologia/3.01/3.01....
I assume you are concerned that "GASTO" is in capital letters? Can you explain further?