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Open Channel Flowmeters for Surface Water Monitoring

RS Hydro were approached for surface water flow-rate monitoring, measuring the flow-rate and volume of surface water moving inside of culverts. Located upstream from the culverts were surface water retention basins; during heavy rainfall these retention basins overflowed via the culverts, discharging to an on-site natural watercourse.

ISCO DuraTracker Doppler Area-Velocity Flowmeter, with Wildeye Telemetry Logger

Understanding surface water flow-rates, as well as volumetric flow patterns, are key data parameters for sites where the surface water impacts local watercourses. Surface water collects on the ground and can absorb pollutants, such as PFAS, micro-plastics, chemicals and other compounds. This surface water can remain in settlement basins during dry conditions, but during heavy rainfall these basins typically contain an overflow channel. There is often a watercourse downstream of the overflow channels which the surface water discharges into. Therefore in many cases, surface water transports these harmful pollutants straight into natural watercourses.

RS Hydro were tasked with designing a system that can monitor surface-water flow data within existing culverts connecting settlement basins to nearby streams. The site in question was an airfield, which implicates de-icing compounds as the pollutant which is carried by the surface water from the airfield infrastructure into the on-site streams. Understanding the flow-rates during dry spells compared with heavy rainfall gives an overview of the surface water movement over time, which will eventually allow for the design of future methods of treating the polluted water, before it reaches the stream.

System Details:

ISCO DuraTracker area-velocity flowmeter transmitter.
ISCO Area-Velocity AV350 doppler sensor.
Wildeye 4G Telemetry Datalogger.
Custom built data marshalling station powered by solar panels.

Benefits of the DuraTracker when Paired with 4G Telemetry

Capable of monitoring flow-rates up to 6m/s.
ISCO TIENET sensors allow the system to monitor other parameters such as pH, as well as connection to waste-water autosamplers.
MODBUS output can be used to pair with telemetry or to a site BMS/SCADA.
Wildeye Telemetry provides online data-monitoring without needing to visit the system location.