Flow

Synonyms: Discharge, Flows

Flow is the movement of water (including stormwater) across impervious surfaces, permeable surfaces, and in streams or other surface water bodies.

The term “discharges” most commonly refers to the flow of water from one entity to another. For example, water from a pipe discharges into a stream or the gutter discharges into a rain barrel.

In hydrology, “discharge” is the rate of water flow through a given cross-sectional area.

In the simplest of terms, water flows downhill.  The volume and rate at which water flows, along with the surface it flows across, have major implications for water quality and quantity management.