Solinst provide solution for Anderson Consulting!

Here’s a case study submitted by Anderson Consulting, a client based in southeast Queensland who recently deployed some Solinst Levelogger 5’s.

Following the significant rainfall event of early 2022 in southeast Queensland and northern NSW, groundwater levels at a landfill site in southeast Queensland had risen several metres above any levels previously recorded at the site. To assist with site planning and works, the operators of the site contacted Anderson Consulting requesting a review of the existing groundwater data and advice to inform operational planning for the site.

The existing groundwater level data for the site consisted of compliance monitoring data collected every three months. This ‘snap shot’ of data limited the assessment of the groundwater trends (e.g. was it still rising, decreasing or steady?) and site responses to the continual rainfall being experienced (was it responding and if so, what was the timing of any responses?).

Anderson Consulting proposed the installation of Solinst Levelogger 5’s across the groundwater monitoring network which consisted of sixteen (16) wells.

Solinst Levelogger 5’s were chosen because of their:

• Robustness (Anderson Consulting personnel have used these loggers continually for over six years in a multitude of situations, environments, and conditions and have only ever had one logger fail)
• Accuracy
• Ability to augment with data cables and telemetry at a later date
• Long battery life
• Simple PC interface and the ability to use a data grabber to download data rapidly (without the need for a field computer)

The loggers were installed and set to a 10-minute logging timestep. Over the next few months (with rainfall events still occurring) the data collected provided an important understanding of groundwater characteristics – in particular each of the bore’s responses to rainfall. This data allowed analysis and determination of groundwater recharge locations, aquifer types, and groundwater decay (recession) rates. Based on this understanding, planning for the operations was able to be made based on known data, rather than speculation or interpolation between quarterly compliance monitoring.

Based on the quality of the data and subsequent understanding gleaned from the groundwater loggers the site Operators requested Anderson Consulting to provide information on the behavior of surface waters (in particular sediment basins). Four Solinst Levelogger 5’s were deployed and used with a known survey (stage-storage) of the water bodies to understand volumetric changes due to rainfall events, evaporation, losses, and pumping. From this information site, specific stage runoff factors and pumping curves could be calculated.

The operators then requested loggers to augment the current leachate level monitoring system at the site. Again, Solinst Levelogger 5’s were chosen, and three loggers have been deployed with a further five to be installed in early 2023. The installation involves the removal of leachate pumps from diagonal risers and the attachment of the logger and data reader cable to allow the download of data at the surface. The site operator is considering adding telemetry to these units to provide easy access to cloud-based data for the wells.

The introduction of Solinst Levelogger 5’s to the site has allowed for:

• More detailed monitoring and analysis of groundwater, surface water, and leachate
• A clearer picture of the workings and interactions of water (rainfall, runoff, recharge, and infiltration) at the site
• Decision-making to be based on real-time data

Chris Anderson, Principal Engineer and Scientist, Anderson Consulting

contactus@andersonconsulting.com.au 07 5648 0965 https://www.andersonconsulting.com.au/

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