Installation begins at five sites in the northern Murray-Darling Basin, with authorities believing unmeasured water is in part responsible for a failure to predict the large flows into Menindee Lakes this summer.
NSW Water Minister Kevin Anderson confirmed the installation of the first five Commonwealth-funded hydrometric stations was underway at Wilcannia, Bourke, Walgett, Quambone and Brewarrina."This information is shared with other agencies, including the State Emergency Service and Bureau of Meteorology."It flows roughly once a decade following heavy rainfall in the catchment area further north.According to a Water NSW spokesperson, there are several types of gauges.
"The basic stream gauge is a staff gauge post [pictured above] or series of them up the river bank, used to read the water level in a repeatable way," he said. "To get more timely information, more sophisticated instruments are installed into a shelter at the top of the bank, ideally above flood levels, and sensors to read water level or water quality are plumbed down the bank to sit in the water when the stream is flowing.
"These automated measurements are then sent by telemetry to a central database where they are captured and made available for use."The Water NSW spokesperson said a well maintained stream gauge can last "a very long time" and there were sites along the Darling that had been in operation for more than 100 years.Price of installation
The spokesperson said the cost for both installation and maintenance varied between units, due to their requirements and location.
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