Maintenance
Stations maintained by SFWMD follow their service protocols described in the Quality Assurance Management Procedure Q200-001 (SFWMD 2011). Stations maintained by the BAM Project follow similar procedures, summarized below.
BAM project stations are visited once every six weeks, except for sites MW-4 and MW-5 located in the WCA3-B Marsh, (accessible by airboat) which are serviced once every three months.
Regular maintenance includes an inspection of general physical condition of the station (e.g solar panels, enclosures, and platforms or surface vaults). Desiccant used for maintaining a dry atmosphere in the instrument enclosures are exchanged during each service. Sensors such as the precipitation gage are checked for debris and cleaned as needed. Calibration checks are taken for water elevation against measured values. Water level verification is performed during each site service. Instrument values are recorded and water levels are measured and noted in the field. Discrepancies of greater than 0.02 feet between field-measured and sensor values are corrected and noted in the field notes. The electrical conductivity probes are verified against known conductivity standard solutions. Any measurement probe found to be nonfunctional and not capable of being calibrated is replaced.
In addition to inspecting the surface facilities, inspection of groundwater flowmeters includes verification that the suspension rods are properly installed, oriented vertically, and oriented with respect to north. Flowmeters are pulled from the wells and inspected for fouling on a quarterly basis.
Maintenance Photos
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The calibration of the conductivity probe is checked against a fresh standard solution.
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Desiccant is exchanged in the drying tubes for vented pressure transducers (1 of 3).
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Desiccant is exchanged in the drying tubes for vented pressure transducers (2 of 3).
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Desiccant is exchanged in the drying tubes for vented pressure transducers (3 of 3).
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Sensors are cleaned as needed, with condition noted (1 of 2).
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Sensors are cleaned as needed, with condition noted (2 of 2).
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Sand accumulation on packer of groundwater flow meter.
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Thermistor and electrical conductivity probe are suspended in the screened portion of the well.
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D. Hire uses laptop computer to obtain current readings from datalogger at MW1.
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Calculating elevation offset of pressure transducer.
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Filling heat pulse flowmeter with glass beads during initial installation.
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Airboat Captain Bill Brackin on standby during servicing of L30 MW5.
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The monitoring stations in the WCA3B marsh are reached by airboat.