Convert Cubic Decimeter (dm³) to Megaliter (ML) instantly.
About these units
Cubic Decimeter (dm³)
A cubic decimeter is defined as 1 liter, since it is the volume of a cube 10 centimeters per side. Though equivalent to the liter, dm³ is often used in engineering and physics because it fits neatly into the SI geometric framework. This unit is convenient when working with densities (kg/dm³), where the equivalence of 1 dm³ and 1 L simplifies many calculations involving fluids and materials. While the liter dominates everyday usage, the cubic decimeter is favored in technical contexts where a strong geometric interpretation is needed—for example, in tank sizing, volumetric flow calculations, or experiments involving water displacement.
Megaliter (ML)
A megaliter is one million liters, equivalent to 1,000 cubic meters. It is used in large-scale water management, including municipal supply systems, reservoirs, agricultural irrigation planning, and hydroengineering. City planners and hydrologists often express daily water consumption in megaliters per day (ML/day). For example, a medium-sized city might use anywhere from 50 to several hundred ML daily. The unit is especially helpful because it bridges the gap between the cubic meter (too small for city-scale usage) and the gigaliter (too large for many practical applications). As water scarcity and climate resilience become critical global issues, the megaliter continues to be a foundational measurement in environmental science and infrastructure planning.