What Is Hydrometry In Surveying?

Hydrometry is the study of the components of the hydrological cycle, such as rainfall, groundwater properties, and surface water quality and flow parameters.

The term hydrometry derives from Greek: (hydor) ‘water’ + v (metron)’measurement.’

Hydrometrics is an applied science and engineering discipline that deals with hydrometry.

It is a branch of engineering that covers a wide range of topics. This subject is generally connected to hydrology, but it specializes in the measurement of hydrological cycle components, particularly the bulk quantification of water resources.

It includes hydrology, structures, control systems, computer sciences, data management, and communications, among other classic engineering methods.

Hydrometry is formally defined by the International Organization for Standardization as “the science of measuring water, including the methodologies, techniques, and instruments utilized.”

Understanding hydrometry

The study of monitoring water in natural water resources is known as hydrometry.

It focuses on monitoring natural water precipitation, such as rain or snow, as well as changes in water level in all types of natural water resources, such as lakes, rivers, underground or storage reservoirs.

The study of even the smallest changes in the level of water resources is the fundamental objective of hydrometric measurements, therefore level monitoring is vital.

Hydrometry frequently incorporates chemical analysis methods to monitor the quality of a water resource, primarily to detect any type of contamination.

Hydrometry measures the amount of rain that falls on the ground and uses that data to forecast the amount of rain that will fall over a given time period.

When rain or snow falls, hydrometric measurements help in flood prediction, water quality analysis, and monitoring the flow or level of water in streams and rivers.

Lakes, subsurface water resources such as groundwater and aquifers, artificial reservoirs, and even the ocean itself are all covered by the science of hydrometry.

Hydrometry level probes

Hydrometric measures are used to anticipate when the volume of water flowing into drains, streams, and rivers will generate flood conditions.

Submersible pressure transmitters are used in level monitoring stations to feed back the water level.

Water officials can then utilize this information to warn people about anticipated flooding and control weirs, sluices, and penstocks in rivers and streams to reduce the risk of potentially dangerous floods.

Hydrometry will be employed on a daily basis to continuously check the level of watercourses to guarantee optimal flow conditions.

Watercourses require a specific quantity of water flow to remain healthy. A water authority will thus advise water extractors on the minimum flow rate that must be maintained in a watercourse to prevent it from dying or running dry.

These extraction permits will be granted on the basis of historical hydrometric measurement data. A level probe, also known as a submersible pressure transmitter, will be installed where water passes over a weir or known profile.

The combination of level monitoring and the known shape of the weir or flume allows the level to be used to compute actual flow at that exact point of the water course.

Hydrologists use hydrometry to monitor groundwater levels by charting where the water is concentrated, where it is accessible, and analyzing its quality.

A submersible pressure transmitter will be installed in monitoring wells to allow for the monitoring of water levels in subsurface reservoirs even at great depths.

If natural surface lakes or man-made artificial reservoirs are monitored, these hydrostatic level transmitters will be suspended at a known place, and the volume of water can be computed using the reservoir’s known contours.

As a result, level and chemical analysis equipment are by far the most common types of water sensors used in hydrometry.

Whether for flood control, sustainable water resource utilization, inland water navigation, or agriculture, dependable and accurate hydrometric measurements provide important data for a wide range of critical public services and industrial activities.

Hydrometric station

A station on a river, lake, estuary, or reservoir that collects and records data on water quantity and quality.

Stage (water surface elevation), discharge, silt concentration, water temperature, chemical and biological qualities of water, ice forms, and other features are examples of such data.

Data from such stations is used for the assessment of the health of water resources, for flood forecasting and water quality analysis, evaluating the effects of land-use changes on river flows, or developing integrated catchment management plans.

A hydrometric station can also be used to measure concentration changes in groundwater to assess the influence of subsurface processes on drinking water.

Water quality data is also a vital input in planning and designing water-dependent infrastructure, such as desalination plants.

Equipment in use

Electronic devices for measuring water level, made of fiberglass for durability, and powered by either a solar cell or battery.

The most common type of submersible pressure transducers are produced using the PTT sensor technology with a transmitter usually placed at the wellhead such as a manhole or invert of an irrigation canal.

A barometric pressure transducer is also available to measure the air pressure changes caused by raindrops hitting the radar dome that is part of the system.

Fiberglass water level transducers are rugged and will be able to withstand harsh environmental conditions.

Submersible pressure transducers can be moved around for use in other geographical areas as long as the transmitter is set to the same pressure.

Data on weather patterns and water flow conditions in rivers and lakes can also be obtained from satellites.

Hydrometric monitoring of lakes and reservoirs often relies on aerial surveys that look down at the surface to determine how much water is flowing into or out of a body of water.

For larger reservoirs, it is necessary to use more advanced equipment to take accurate measurements.

Sensors on buoys that transmit pressure information in real-time about fluctuations in water levels are commonly used.

This type of equipment relies on a network of buoys positioned across the reservoir.

There are also specially designed boats that are equipped with water level sensors and transmitters, which collect data while they travel over the reservoir.

Site selection for stream gauging

The selection of streams to be gauged should be guided by network architecture principles and the anticipated use of data. For research projects including runoff estimation, soil erosion estimation, and water balance computation at various watershed sizes, a dense network of gauging stations is necessary.

In the design of a water resources control system, a significant amount of attention should be paid to the selection of streamflow measurements and auxiliary gauging stations as well as to their location.

Each site has to be carefully selected because a submersible pressure transmitter is both delicate and costly.

The optimum position for a water flow measurement station must represent an important component in the overall design of the monitoring network.

Selection of gauging site

The following criteria for an optimum gauge site should be used to influence the selection of a specific site for the measuring station on a given stream (WMO 1981):

1. The stream’s main path is straight for about 100 meters upstream and downstream of the measuring point.
2. At all stages, the whole flow is restricted within the channel, and no flow bypasses the site as subsurface flow.
3. The site at which a flow is measured, receives from the channel, the same amount of flow as that passing the measuring station.
4. The stream’s channel is relatively free or relatively unconfined in its bed and banks, and its bed consists of fairly uniform material.
5. If necessary, telemetry facilities can be made available.
6. The gauge location is sufficiently upstream of the confluence with another stream.
7. The location is easily accessible, making installation and operation of the gauging station simple.
8. The site is relatively free of human interference or constituents in the water that might interfere with the operation of the measuring equipment.
9. The site is sufficiently rigid to allow the installation of instruments and piping without affecting future operations.
10. The site permits expansion to a second measuring station without having to remove existing installations.

FAQs

What is hydrometry?

Hydrometry is the study of the components of the hydrological cycle, such as rainfall, groundwater properties, and surface water quality and flow parameters.

What is River hydrometry?

The study of monitoring water in natural water resources is known as hydrometry. It focuses on monitoring natural water precipitation, such as rain or snow, as well as changes in water level in all types of natural water resources, such as lakes, rivers, underground or storage reservoirs.

What is the meaning of hydrological?

Hydrology is the study of the distribution, conservation, and use of the earth’s and its atmosphere’s water, particularly at the ground surface.

What types of hydrometric data are collected?

Water level and streamflow are the two most important water quantity variables (also known as discharge). Some stations, however, record and broadcast other environmental factors such as air and water temperature.

What is hydrometric station?

A station on a river, lake, estuary, or reservoir that collects and records data on water quantity and quality.

What is unit of discharge?

V x D x W = Discharge

Discharge has units of feet3/sec or cubic ft per second if length is measured in feet and time is measured in seconds (cfs).

The cross-sectional area is calculated by multiplying Depth by Width. Because of the reduction in velocity caused by friction at the channel borders, the form of the channel is significant.

Why is hydrometric data important?

Hydrometric data is essential for the planning, operation, and management of water resources, as well as flood defense. The data network is highly valued by individuals who use it, but assigning a monetary or economic value to it is difficult.

Data managers are frequently annoyed by the necessity to justify a network.

What does a current meter measure?

Current meters are sensors that detect the rate at which water flows. A rotor current meter uses a propeller to measure current. A Tilt Current Meter monitors flow rate using a valve that tilts when exposed to water flow.

What does a hydrogeologist do?

A hydrogeologist is someone who examines how groundwater (hydro) travels through the earth’s soil and rock (geology). A hydrologist is someone who studies surface water, which is a comparable career.

Water is a necessary component of life on Earth, as it is required for the survival of humans, plants, and animals.

What is a hydrometric technologist?

To gather and process hydrometric data, the hydrometric technologist employs cutting-edge monitoring equipment and methodologies. These measurements are taken from a bridge, by wading in a stream, by boat, or by employing a cableway and cable car suspended across a river.

What is natural hydrology?

The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, is a continuous process in which water is cleaned by evaporation and transferred from the earth’s surface (including the seas) to the atmosphere and then back to the earth’s surface and oceans.

How discharge is measured?

The volume of water traveling down a waterway per unit of time is referred to as discharge. The most common units of measurement are cubic feet per second or gallons per day.

Divide the area of water in a channel cross section by the average velocity of water in that cross section to compute discharge.

What jobs can a hydrogeologist do?

Hydrogeologists collect groundwater data (water level and quality), create groundwater models to identify groundwater contamination and estimate sustainable water abstraction, and collaborate with engineers on massive infrastructure projects.

Can I become a hydrologist with a geology degree?

A geologist with a degree in hydrology can, after an advanced degree, change to a position as a hydrologist. A Geology and Water Resources minor is available at many colleges and universities.

What is the difference between hydrogeology and geochemistry?

Hydrogeology is the study of groundwater in Sedimentary and Carbonate Rocks which consist of very fine-grained sedimentary or carbonate rocks that are typically dark-colored (commonly grey) from the presence of organic material including humic and fulvic acids.

Geochemistry is the study of the phenomena that occur in rocks and soils which include groundwater systems.

What Education Do You Need to Become a Hydrogeologist?

For the majority of entry-level positions, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Students should major in environmental science, geography, geology, earth sciences, or a closely related field. Physics, as well as geoengineering, will be useful.

What Is the Average Hydrogeologist Salary?

The average hydrogeologist salary is $73,000 to $83,000 per year with a median salary of $80,000.

Typical entry-level hydrogeologists earn approximately $50,000 per year. Experienced hydrogeologists can make over $100,000 annually.

What Does Hydrogeology Study?

Hydrogeology is the study of groundwater in Sedimentary and Carbonate Rocks which consist of very fine-grained sedimentary or carbonate rocks that are typically dark-colored (commonly grey) from the presence of organic material including humic and fulvic acids.

It’s important for hydrogeologists to understand the hydrological cycle. This is the progression of water from oceans, to ice cubes, to air and back again.

What are the benefits of a hydrogeologist?

Hydrogeologists are rarely sick, as they don’t get wet or dirty. However, there is some risk of being exposed to toxic sludge or bacteria when working in subterranean settings.

There is no chance of falling off a cliff face, getting bitten by wildlife or suffering an allergic reaction due to plants, animals and insects.