Cutthroat

In the mid-1960's the Utah State University Water Research Laboratory began development on a new type of flume for use in flat gradient channels. The result was the Cutthroat flume, so named due to the absence of a parallel-wall throat section (as on the Parshall flume). Commonly used in stream gauging and agricultural applications, the use of the Cutthroat flume is now expanding into sanitary and flow splitting applications.

Cutthroat flumes are sized by throat width and overall length. A number of styles are commercially available. The most commonly used types are listed in the chart below. Note that it is not uncommon for intermediate (or even custom) sizes to be specified.

Options and Accessories
  • Ultrasonic mounting brackets
  • Bubble tubes
  • Sample tubes
  • Submerged probe cavities
  • Stilling wells (detached)
  • Staff gauges
  • Removable probe holders
  • Inlet and outlet end adapters
  • Pipe stubs
  • Flanged end connections
  • Fiberglass grating
  • Riser boxes
  • Multi-piece construction
  • Chemically resistant gel coat
Primary advantages include:
  • The straight through bottom (for silt and debris passage)
  • Simplicity of form
  • Scalability to intermediate sizes
  • Constant dimensional configuration
  • Able to operate under free flow conditions with submergence ratios up to 79-88% (depending upon the flume size)
Cutthroat

54" x 24" Cutthroat flume, Snowflake AZ

If you would like additional information, pricing, or assistance in sizing and specifying a flume, please fill out and submit our flume application form.