Water Level Monitoring Systems & Sensors
Our systems measure level in many environments including wells, dams, streams, weirs, stormwater systems, and water treatment or wastewater treatment plants. Reliability is not compromised by salinity level, pollution levels, or other harsh environmental conditions. Key components of our water level measurement systems are dataloggers, sensors, and communications devices, which can be customized for each site.
Water level, stage, or flow can be measured with many types of sensors: pressure transducers, bubblers, shaft encoders, or ultrasonic sensors. The location where you are measuring water level, the accuracy required, and the ease of installation all contribute to determining the best water-level sensor for your measurement site. We can also build you a custom stilling well to interface with or house your water level monitoring station.
Greyline Instruments offers complete systems for monitoring water levels and monitoring flows in pipes.
Acculevel
HOBO Water
Level Logger
U20-001-0x
Water Level
Rentals Available
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Pressure Transducer or Vibrating Wire Piezometer
There are hundreds of transducer type sensors in the market today. There are a few things that set them apart. Most of these type of sensors use pressure on a thin wafer type sensor to measure the depth of water or even the pressure of the air. The other main sensor type is called a vibrating wire piezometer. This sensor uses a tiny wire and measures the vibration frequency of the wire when plucked by the senor. The depth of the water changes the frequency of the wire.
Built in Dataloggers
Some of the pressure sensors available have a built in datalogger and these are often used in ground water monitoring due to their small form factor and ease of use and installation. We sell and support the In-situ LevelTROLLS and the Onset HOBO Water Level Loggers. Both of these systems have built in dataloggers and are easy to deploy for measuring water levels in a variety of applications.
Datalogger and Sensor Integration
By combining a pressure transducer or vibrating wire sensor with one of the Campbell Scientific dataloggers you can create a rugged and flexible water level monitoring system. The CR200, CR800 and CR1000 can read many different types of outputs and offer reliable data collection and can be implemented as a control system or warning system in many types of applications.
There are many sensors available here are a few we recommend. Contact us if you are seeking something else, we can generally match what you are seeking.
- Acculevel Pressure Transducer - No internal datalogger
- CS450 Pressure Transducer - No Internal datalogger
- 4500 Series Vibrating Wire Sensor - No internal datalogger
- Onset HOBO Water Level Logger - Includes internal datalogger
- In-Situ LevelTROLL - Includes internal datalogger
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SD100 Ultrasonic |
Ultrasonic Sensor
The SD100 ultrasonic depth sensor is an inexpensive solution for remotely measuring snow depth or water levels. The sensor works by measuring the time required for an ultrasonic pulse to travel to and from a target surface. An integrated temperature probe with solar radiation shield, provides an air temperature measurement for properly compensating the distance measured. An embedded microcontroller calculates a temperature compensated distance and performs an error checking routine.
Both distance and air temperature are output as an analog signal between 0 to 2.5 Volts or 0 to 5 Volts. Measurements can also be output digitally as serial ASCII. Specify Analog or Digital output at time order.
Due to the simplified interface, the depth sensor can interface with any datalogger or control system that can delay at least 3 seconds after powering up before measuring the output.
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CS470/471 |
Bubbler Sensor
The CS470 is a compact bubbler that generally measures ground or surface water level, but can also measure any liquid level. This bubbler has an accuracy of ±0.02 ft. A Campbell Scientific datalogger controls the CS470's pump and calculates the measurements. The bubbler typically communicates with the datalogger via the SDI-12 protocol. Many of our dataloggers support SDI-12.
CS470 Benefits
- Ideal for areas where submersed sensors can be damaged due to corrosion, contamination, flood-related debris, lightning, or vandalism
- Compatible with most Campbell Scientific dataloggers
- Easy to maintain
- Robust pump design provides reliable operation
- Consistent accuracy ensured by drift-free measurements and offset compensation using relative measurement
- Purge function clears the measuring tube and the bubble chamber of contamination
- Does not use pressurized nitrogen tank—requiring less frequent attendance
- Existing tubes can be used
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Radar Level Sensor
The CS475 is a radar-ranging sensor that monitors water level of rivers, lakes, tidal seas, and reservoirs. It can measure distances up to 20 meters. The CS475 outputs a digital SDI-12 signal to indicate distance and stage.
The CS476 can measure distances up to 30 meters.
CS475/476 Benefits
- Ideal for areas where submersed sensors can be damaged due to corrosion, contamination, flood-related debris, lightning, or vandalism
- Compatible with most Campbell Scientific dataloggers
- Low maintenance—no moving parts significantly reduces maintenance cost and time
- Low power consumption
- Rugged enough for harsh environments—NEMA rated 4X
- No FCC license required
- Wide operating temperature range (-40° to +80°C)
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Packaged System
Model: LVLP10
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Potentiometer Float & Pulley Model FP10
 We build a float & pulley sensor that uses a 10 turn potentiometer as the measuring sensor. This allows for a few nice benefits. The potentiometer is in-expensive and can be replaced very easily, without needing to replace the other parts. The entire system is low cost and offers many years of quality use and return on investment. The potentiometer can be read by many dataloggers and PLC's and is a common sensor in the water level industry.
System Specifications:
- 0 to 10 foot water level range
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.01 ft resolution (can vary based on measuring device used)
- Body is Aluminum and Stainless Steel (resists corrosion)
- 12 inch Pulley, 4.5 inch Round Float
- Beaded Cable
- Accepts input excitation up to 40 VDC
- 5K Ohms Resistance
- Requires a minimum of 8" diameter stilling well or vault access to water
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H-3311 |
Shaft Encoder Float & Pulley
Shaft encoders are known for their ease of use and ruggedness. They are not affected by frozen water and are easy to calibrate. Shaft encoders are very popular in open channel and cabal type irrigation systems. The USGS use shaft encoders in hundreds if not thousands of locations across the USA.
The WaterLOG® H-3311 is a digital shaft encoder, which measures water level by monitoring the position of a float and pulley. This unit outputs SDI-12 and 2-wire Quadrature. The H-3311 is easy to use and works with any SDI-12 data recorder. The shaft encoder is generally more accurate than a potentiometer system and will not wear our over time like a potentiometer. We have sold this unit for many years and find it to be of high quality and will provide many years of service. This specific model has an LCD display and the ability to calibrate the unit without moving the shaft and pulley.
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Ecotone
The Ecotone WM is a specially designed, battery powered, instrument for the measurement of shallow ground and surface water levels. This unique device combines the data logger, water level sensor and custom well screen in one package. The compact PVC data logger housing is o-ring sealed to provide the Ecotone WM with an unbelievable submersion rating of 1 meter for 4 weeks. In addition, the low profile dust cover helps protect the data port from small wildlife and weather damage. Packaged with these features are a very low power circuit and an industrial lithium battery which creates an instrument with exceptional battery life.
Specifications:
- Sensor Range: 0.5 meter (20"), 1 meter (40") and 2 meter (80").
- Powered by (1) 2/3AA industrial lithium battery.
- Housing is O-ring sealed and connector pins are insert molded for greater water resistance.
- Tight fitting low profile dust cover for better protection against small wildlife damage.
- Records water levels in inch, cm or mm units.
- Accuracy: +/-3mm / 0.1 in @ 71° F to 73° F.
- Resolution: +/-1mm, +/-0.1 cm or +/-0.1 in, depending on selected measurement units.
- Records 16,000 water level measurements in flash memory.
Models:
- Ecotone WM 0.5 meter - model #: WM16k0515
- Ecotone WM 1 meter - model #: WM16k1015
- Ecotone WM 2 meter - model #: WM16k2030
We represent this product West of the Mississippi. Contact us for a quotation.
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Shaft Encoders and Float & Pulley type sensors are the most commonly used sensor in this setup, however, an ultrasonic or pressure sensor can easily be adapted to a stilling well application. |
Custom Built Stilling Wells - Corrugated Steel or PVC
 We can build any type of stilling well for your water level measuring project. We build stilling wells out of steel corrugated pipe and PVC products.
We can supply nearly any diameter, but we have some standard sizes that we recommend.
- 8" Corrugated Steel
- 12" Corrugated Steel
- 24" Corrugated Steel
- 36" Corrugated Steel
- 12" PVC Pipe
- 24" PVC Pipe
All of our still wells come with a 3/4" or 1" access coupler or nipple at the bottom of the well, this allows you to attach a PVC or steel pipe to the well for water access. All of our wells also come with a shelf or flange(s) at the top for attaching a cabinet or enclosure. If you would like we can also provide the cabinet or enclosure based upon your requirements.
Above is an example of a USGS type stream Gage system. Most often a simple corrugated pipe and cabinet are now installed for low cost and ease of use.
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