waterinbreng

Waterinbreng is a hydrological term that refers to the input of water into a defined system, such as a watershed, reservoir, lake, wetland, or aquifer. It encompasses all sources of water that contribute to the storage or flow within the system during a specified time period. Common components of waterinbreng include river inflows, direct precipitation on the water surface, surface runoff from the catchment, groundwater seepage into the system, and artificial transfers or imports from external basins.

In hydrological practice, waterinbreng is used in water balance calculations to estimate changes in storage and available water. The balance equation typically includes waterinbreng plus other inputs minus outputs such as evaporation, withdrawals, and downstream outflow, resulting in changes to storage over time.

Measurement and estimation of waterinbreng rely on a combination of gauged inflows, meteorological data, and hydrological modeling. River inflows are measured with flow gauges, rainfall is recorded at weather stations, and groundwater inflow is estimated through hydrogeological methods or seepage meters. Artificial inflows are tracked by metering and accounting systems.

Applications of understanding waterinbreng include reservoir operation, drought forecasting, water allocation planning, and assessments of aquifer recharge or lake ecosystem health. The term complements related concepts such as waterafvoer (outflow) and waterverbruik (consumption or withdrawal) in water balance studies.

Example: In a lake, waterinbreng consists of precipitation on the lake surface, tributary inflows, and groundwater seepage; evaporation removes water, and outflow or withdrawals reduce storage.