Case studies

Tecnopenta system for monitoring water quality and quantity in an infiltration pond

Monitoring of flow rates and water quality in an infiltration pond

Tecnopenta has developed an integrated monitoring system for measuring flow rates and water quality in an area designed as an infiltration pond for aquifer recharge. This type of basin is increasingly used as a sustainable Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) technique, helping to increase the availability of groundwater resources, reduce surface runoff and promote hydrogeological balance.

Station 1: environmental sensors and remote alert

At the first measurement point, a weir was installed to control the water level. Inside a blue-colored tube, three probes were installed for monitoring electrical conductivity, temperature and pH. Completing the system, an ultrasonic sensor fixed above a grate, in correspondence with an opening created to allow unobstructed measurement, continuously detects the water level. Readings are set every 30 minutes, with bi-hourly data transmission and alert thresholds configured in the modem to notify any exceedances via SMS.

Station 2: flow rate measurement

The second control point was dedicated to flow rate measurement. Inside a steel ring with a diameter of 60 cm, an MPX sensor was installed to measure water flow velocity. In this case, the reading frequency is set every 5 minutes, with automatic data transmission every hour. This information is essential for estimating the water volumes conveyed into the basin and the actual effectiveness of the recharge system.

Station 3: water quality and level

In a second phase of the intervention, the third station was installed, equipped with the same configuration as the first: probes for conductivity, temperature and pH installed in a blue tube and an ultrasonic sensor mounted with a bracket. In this case as well, parameters are read every 30 minutes and data are transmitted every two hours. The alarm thresholds, defined directly in the modem, trigger notifications of any anomalies detected by the sensors.

Monitoring platform and flow calculation

For all stations, automatic data processing was activated on the METRA platform, including the application of formulas for calculating flow rate in liters per second (l/s). This enables an integrated view of both the quality and quantity of infiltrated water, making it possible to achieve optimal management of the pond also remotely.

Application framework of the system

The described monitoring system is particularly suitable for applications in hydrogeology, water resources management and environmental monitoring, where continuous control of both qualitative parameters and water volumes is required. The integration of level, quality and flow velocity sensors supports design, verification and optimization activities for artificial aquifer recharge systems.