A New Device May Help California Combat Climate Change, Drought
MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif., Dec. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A new device from Pacific Watershed Associates (PWA), the Mark 1 Telemeter, may help California fight the effects of drought and climate change on its water supply, says its developer. A 2015 amendment to the state's water code required surface water diverters to install measuring devices and report their water use.
"Until the Mark 1," said PWA CEO Dr. Bill Weaver, "there wasn't an easy or affordable way for small landowners and irrigators to comply with the updated code requirements. The Mark 1 Telemeter makes that possible."
The new device can automatically measure, record, and report information about flow and water quality parameters, and instantly transmit the information to its users via the cloud. With the Mark 1, farmers, ranchers and environmental scientists can tackle water problems before they make a significant impact on the state's water supply, as well as meet their state reporting. For more information please visit www.telemeterhome.com
With the need for cost-effective, accurate compliance in mind, the PWA research team put their collective brainpower into full gear to create a device to help landowners meet their legal requirements. Their offspring, the basic Mark 1 Telemeter, is installed above the water surface by technicians and uses sonar and infrared technologies to collect water data, including real time water levels, flow, temperature and other water quality data.
"Here is where the Mark 1 excels," said Brad Job, Project Engineer, "it then transmits that live data via telemetry to a secure cloud server where users can download the data onto their own computers for analysis and later reporting to the state."
If there are problems at the site, the user instantly knows and can check their operations. The basic Mark 1 will soon be configured to not only measure and instantly transmit data, but also to notify the user by text message or email if water levels reach a predefined threshold and to even remotely turn pumps on or off to meet regulatory or environmental requirements.
Based in McKinleyville, California, Pacific Watershed Associates provides surface water studies throughout California. With an experienced staff in water science, geology and engineering, PWA provides hands-on expertise and provides full-service water supply consultations for individuals and organizations throughout the state.
Contact:
Bob Pincus
Ph: (707) 624-6679
SOURCE Pacific Watershed Associates
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