RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICS
T & D Project No. 1E11EM35
Project Final Report
May 2002
USDA FOREST SERVICE
Technology & Development Center
444 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, CA 91773
RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICS
T & D Project No. 1E11EM35
Table of Contents
Subject
Section
Problem Statement
1
Project Goal
2
Project Status
3
Field Test Plan Outline
4
Products Selected for Testing
5
Appendix - Ground Water Level Monitoring
Devices Market Survey
6
RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICS
T & D Project No. 1E11EM35
Section 1
Problem:
There are extensive areas of soils in Michigan that have
highly fluctuating water tables within four feet of the soil
surface. Very little is known about the dynamics of these
water tables. This information is of interest to the Forest
Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service
(NRCS) for developing both soil and ecological site
characteristics. Currently the data collection devices
being used are prone to vandalism, and collection of data
is costly and time consuming.
RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICS
Goal:
T & D Project No. 1E11EM35
Section 2
The goal of this project is to develop a device that is;
1. Relatively low cost to purchase and maintain,
2. Capable of recording a water column height to an
accuracy of one-inch or better,
3. Easy to operate (program & download),
4. Will store up-to one year of data,
5. Can be easily concealed.
RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICS
T & D Project No. 1E11EM35
Section 3
Project Summary:
1. Define performance and evaluation requirements.
• Coordinated with Joe Gates, R9.
2. Survey industry for potential data collection products.
• See appendix of this presentation.
3. Select and procure a suitable product for testing.
• See Section 5 of this presentation.
RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICS
T & D Project No. 1E11EM35
Section 3
Project Summary:
4. Prepare a test plan.
• Test Plan Outline given in Section 5 of this
presentation.
5. Commence testing by the end of FY 01.
• Units installed for seasonal testing in R9.
RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICS
T & D Project No. 1E11EM35
Section 3
Project Summary:
1. Continue field testing until the beginning of Summer
2002.
• All units met performance requirements.
2. Publish a final report at the end of FY 02.
• Document will remain Web-based to enable product
updates.
RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICS
T & D Project No. 1E11EM35
Section 4
Field Test Plan Outline
1. Upon receipt of test systems SDTDC will retrofit each
system for installation into a 2-inch well casing at the test
site and ship them to Region 9 (R9) for installation.
2. Test locations shall be selected by R9.
3. SDTDC will assist, observe, document and photograph
installation of the test systems in R9.
RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICS
T & D Project No. 1E11EM35
Section 4
Field Test Plan Outline
4. SDTDC monitored data downloading during 8 months of
use by R9. SDTDC photographed and documented data
downloading, and system reprogramming.
5. After one season of use, the systems were inspected for
deterioration or mechanical failure.
6. R9 and SDTDC compared observations and
collaborated their findings into a project report. All tested
systems met requirements; buyers may select a product
based on features and pricing offered.
Products Selected for Testing
Section 5
The following slides list the products selected for field testing.
Selected Products
Section 5
(Click on each image for detailed supplier information)
Sutron Corporation
Digital Water Level
Monitoring System
In-Situ, Inc.
MiniTROLL Professional
System
Global Water
Instrumentation, Inc.
WL-15 Water Level Logger
System
Selected Product
(Click on image for detailed supplier information)
Features:







30 psig submersible pressure sensor w/ data logger
Internal power AA batteries
Batteries last 18 months w/ hourly readings
RS485/RS232 Communications
Palm Top PC data collection system w/ software
Data logger stores 220,000 readings
Well head accessories include, RS485 interface and
locking well cap.
 System cost w/o Palm Top data collection $2000
 With Palm Top (add $1000 one time cost can be used
to download multiple installations)
In-Situ Inc.
miniTROLL Professional
Water Level
Monitoring System
Selected Product
(Click on image for detailed supplier information)
Features:









Submersible pressure sensor
Data logger fits inside 2” pipe at well top
Internal power D size lithium battery
Battery lasts estimated 3 years w/ hourly readings
RS232 communications
Requires laptop to download data, software included
Data logger stores 64,000 readings
Must provide locking well cap
System cost $1400 GSA Contract
Sutron Corporation
Digital Water Level
Monitoring System
Selected Product
(Click on image for detailed supplier information)
Features:









Submersible pressure sensor
Data logger fits inside 2” pipe at well top
Internal 9 VDC lithium battery
Battery lasts estimated 1 year w/ hourly readings
RS232 communications
Requires laptop to download data, software included
Data logger stores 24,400 readings
Must provide locking well cap
System cost $900
Global Water
Instrumentation, Inc.
WL-15 Water Level
Logger System
Appendix
Section 6
Ground Water Level Monitoring Devices Market Survey
Contact:
Ryan Becker
Mechanical Engineer
ryanbecker@fs.fed.us
Telephone: 909 599-1267 X260
USDA FOREST SERVICE
Technology & Development Center
444 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, CA 91773
Products Reviewed
(Click on each image for detailed supplier information)
Products Reviewed
(Click on each image for detailed supplier information)
Products Reviewed
(Click on each image for detailed supplier information)