A new tool to measure groundwater velocity

Groundwater velocity is inherently difficult to measure, especially at sites with limited infrastructure. Most modern groundwater velocity sensors are expensive ($1,110 to $18,000). More than that, they can only be installed in wells 2 inches in diameter or larger, which are expensive and time-consuming to install.

We’ve developed a new sensor system that can be installed in narrow wells (as small as 8 mm ID), like Solinst drive-point piezometers. These piezometer systems can be installed by hand (even in cobble!) and we’ve successfully used the system to measure groundwater velocity several sites. Read more about it in our recent paper in Water Resources Research!