Parshall

Developed in 1922 by Ralph L. Parshall for the United States Bureau of Reclamation, Parshall flumes are the most widely used type of flume for permanent flow monitoring installations. With wide flow ranges, resistance to submersion, simple flow meter calibration, and self-cleaning design, Parshall flumes are the first choice of many engineers and end-users.

Parshall flumes are sized by throat width and conform to standardized dimensions published in the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Water Measurement Manual.

Typical applications include
  • Sewage treatment plant influent and effluent
  • Industrial process discharge
  • Irrigation and agricultural runoff

Listed below are the available Parshall flume sizes and their recommended flow ranges.

Size & Style Recommended Flow Rates
1” 2-85 GPM
2” 3-210 GPM
3” 4-834 GPM
6” 22-1,754 GPM
9” 40-3,979 GPM
12” 146-7,336 GPM
18” 227-11,021 GPM
24” 296-14,853 GPM
30” 366-18,721 GPM
36” 434-22,618 GPM
48” 567-30,484 GPM
60” 995-38,426 GPM
72” 1,181-46,431 GPM
84” 1,828-54,489 GPM
96” 2,076-62,591 GPM
120” 2,575-162,414 GPM
144” 3,057-275,541 GPM

Note: 1” and 2” Parshall flumes are not recommended for sanitary flows
Options and Accessories
  • Ultrasonic mounting brackets
  • Bubble tubes
  • Sample tubes
  • Submerged probe cavities
  • Stilling wells (attached and detached)
  • Staff gauges
  • Removable probe holders
  • Inlet and outlet end adapters
  • Pipe stubs
  • Flanged end connections
  • Flow straighteners
  • Fiberglass grating
  • Inlet and outlet wingwalls
  • Multi-piece construction
  • Nesting
  • Chemically resistant gel coal
60 Parshall Flume

60" Parshall flume

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