RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICST & D Project No. 1E11EM35

USDA FOREST SERVICETechnology & Development Center444 East Bonita AvenueSan Dimas, CA 91773

Project Final ReportMay 2002

RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICST & D Project No. 1E11EM35

Table of ContentsSubject 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 6Devices Market Survey

RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICST & 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 DYNAMICST & D Project No. 1E11EM35

Section 2Goal:

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 DYNAMICST & 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 DYNAMICST & 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 DYNAMICST & 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 DYNAMICST & 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 DYNAMICST & 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 ProductsSection 5

(Click on each image for detailed supplier information)

In-Situ, Inc.MiniTROLL Professional

System

Sutron CorporationDigital Water LevelMonitoring System

Global WaterInstrumentation, Inc.

WL-15 Water Level LoggerSystem

Selected Product (Click on image for detailed supplier information)

In-Situ Inc.miniTROLL Professional

Water LevelMonitoring System

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)

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 CorporationDigital Water LevelMonitoring 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 WaterInstrumentation, Inc.WL-15 Water Level

Logger System

Appendix Section 6

Ground Water Level Monitoring Devices Market Survey

USDA FOREST SERVICETechnology & Development Center444 East Bonita AvenueSan Dimas, CA 91773

Contact:Ryan BeckerMechanical Engineerryanbecker@fs.fed.usTelephone: 909 599-1267 X260

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)