Automated groundwater monitoring system and method
First Claim
1. An automated method of unattended, continuous, real-time monitoring the quality of ground water at a sampling site, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) measuring the water level at the sampling site;
(b) calculating a minimum purge volume for the sampling site, based on the measured water level;
(c) purging at least the minimum purge volume from the sampling site;
(d) monitoring at least one of (i) a preselected water quality property of the water being purged from the sampling site, and (ii) a water quality constituent of the water being purged from the sampling site;
(e) comparing the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent with a selected purge criterion; and
(f) recording the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent when the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent compare favorably with the selected purge criterion,wherein steps (d) and (e) are performed in accordance with a predetermined schedule and with a frequency sufficient to enable detection of a trend in measurement values of the at least one of the water quality property and the water quality constituent.
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Abstract
A method of monitoring the quality of water at a ground water sampling site without human intervention. Water at the sampling site is purged until at least one preselected purge criterion is satisfied. At least one water quality attribute is automatically measured at the sampling site, and the quality of water at the site is determined based on the measured water quality attribute. The method is performed by a system including a control unit which, in accordance with a computer program, controls the taking of water quality attribute measurements at the sampling site. The control unit may be equipped with a port for downloading data to a technician on site and with a transceiver for communicating data to a base station via a communications network.
110 Citations
46 Claims
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1. An automated method of unattended, continuous, real-time monitoring the quality of ground water at a sampling site, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring the water level at the sampling site; (b) calculating a minimum purge volume for the sampling site, based on the measured water level; (c) purging at least the minimum purge volume from the sampling site; (d) monitoring at least one of (i) a preselected water quality property of the water being purged from the sampling site, and (ii) a water quality constituent of the water being purged from the sampling site; (e) comparing the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent with a selected purge criterion; and (f) recording the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent when the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent compare favorably with the selected purge criterion, wherein steps (d) and (e) are performed in accordance with a predetermined schedule and with a frequency sufficient to enable detection of a trend in measurement values of the at least one of the water quality property and the water quality constituent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An automated method of unattended, continuous, real-time monitoring of the quality of ground water at a sampling site, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring the water level at the sampling site; (b) calculating a minimum purge volume for the sampling site, based on the measured water level; (c) purging at least the minimum purge volume from the sampling site; (d) monitoring at least one of (i) a preselected water quality property of the water being purged from the sampling site, and (ii) a water quality constituent of the water being purged from the sampling site; (e) comparing the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent with a selected purge criterion; and (f) recording the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent when the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent compare favorably with the selected purge criterion, wherein steps (d) and (e) are performed in accordance with a predetermined schedule and with a frequently sufficient to enable detection of an abrupt change in the obtained measurement values. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. Apparatus for monitoring the quality of ground water in a sampling site, said apparatus comprising:
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a transducer for measuring the water level in the sampling site; a pump for purging water from the sampling site; a sensor for monitoring at least one of (i) a preselected water quality property of the water being purged from the sampling site, and (ii) a water quality constituent of the water being purged from the sampling site; and a controller for causing unattended, continuous, real-time monitoring of the ground water quality by (i) calculating a minimum purge volume for the sampling site, based on the measured water level (ii) controlling the pump to purge at least the minimum purge volume from the sampling site, (iii) controlling the sensor to monitor the at least one of the preselected water quality property and water quality constituent, (iv) comparing the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent with a selected purge criterion, and (v) recording the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent when the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent compare favorably with the selected purge criterion, said controller causing such monitoring and comparing in accordance with a predetermined schedule and with a frequency sufficient to enable detecting of a trend in measurement values of the at least one of the water quality property and the water qualify constituent.
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44. Apparatus for monitoring quality of ground water in sampling site, said apparatus comprising:
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a transducer for measuring the water level in the sampling site; a pump for purging water from the sampling site; a sensor for monitoring at least one of (i) a preselected water quality property of the water being purged from the sampling site, and (ii) a water quality constituent of the water being purged from the sampling site; and a controller for causing unattended, continuous, real-time monitoring of the ground water quality by (i) calculating a minimum purge volume for the sampling site, based on the measured water level, (ii) controlling the pump to purge at least the minimum purge volume from the sampling site, (iii) controlling the sensor to monitor the at least one of the preselected water quality property and water quality constituent, (iv) comparing the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent with a selected purge criterion, and (v) recording the monitored water quality properly and water quality constituent when the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent compare favorably with the selected purge criterion, said controller causing such monitoring and comprising in accordance with a predetermined schedule and with a frequency sufficient to enable detection of an abrupt change in the obtained measurement values.
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45. Apparatus for monitoring quality of ground water in a well, said apparatus comprising:
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a transducer for measuring the water level in the well; a pump for purging water from the well; a sensor for monitoring at least one of (i) a preselected water quality property of the water being purged from the well, and (ii) a water quality constituent of the water being purged from the well; and a controller for causing unattended, continuous, real-time monitoring of the ground water quality by (i) calculating a minimum purge volume for the well, based on the measured water level, (ii) controlling the pump to purge at least the minimum purge volume from the well, (iii) controlling the sensor to monitor the at least one of the preselected water quality property and water quality constituent, (iv) comparing the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent with a selected purge criterion, and (v) recording the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent when the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent compare favorably with the selected purge criterion, said controller causing such monitoring and comparing in accordance with a predetermined schedule and with a frequency sufficient to enable detection of an abrupt change in the obtained measurement values.
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46. Apparatus for monitoring the quality of ground water in a well said apparatus comprising:
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a transducer for measuring the water level in the well; a pump for purging water from the well; a sensor for monitoring at least one of (i) a preselected water quality property of the water being purged from the well, and (ii) a water quality constituent of the water being purged from the well; and a controller for causing unattended, continuous, real-time monitoring of the ground water quality by (i) calculating a minimum purge volume for the well, based on the measured water level, (ii) controlling the pump to purge at least the minimum purge volume from the well, (iii) controlling the sensor to monitor the at least one of the preselected water quality property and water quality constituent, (iv) comparing the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent with a selected purge criterion, and (v) recording the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent when the monitored water quality property and water quality constituent compare favorably with the selected purge criterion, said controller causing such monitoring and comparing in accordance with a predetermined schedule and with a frequency sufficient to enable detection of a trend in measurement values of the at least one of the water quality property and the water quality constituent.
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Specification