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<br />"., <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />? /tt/.U;VJ4;U ,1~ <br /> <br />~~, ~l at..~ <br /> <br />REAL-TIME MONITORING AND CONTROL <br />INSTRUMENTATION TO <br />MEET WATER MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES <br /> <br />::c-- }l1#-;:<;J.7'~>I <br /> <br />., <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~ <br />~ <br />(;)~ <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />The Bureau of Reclamation has stated that its time for a change. The Federal agency is no <br />longer interested in massive construction projects, but instead will concentrate its activities <br />on water management. One area of particular interest is improving the operation of c~xisting <br />water projects. <br /> <br />Water user groups are also seeing a need to change. Water managers on individual projects <br />are seeing a need to improve the responsiveness of their supply and delivery systems (thereby <br />conserving water and power), to meet public safety requirements, to improve crop <br />production, and to enhance the environment. As a new generation of managers have <br />assumed responsibility, many now recognize that improvements are necessary, but arle <br />struggling to find cost-effective solutions. <br /> <br />Because of major innovations and cost breakthroughs that have occurred with computers <br />(hardware and software), remote terminal units (RTUs) and dataloggers, communication <br />equipment, sensors, and solar power, a real-time monitoring and control system is becoming <br />a cost-effective water management tool. It allows the water manager to compare how a <br />system is operating with how it should be operating and take appropriate steps as required. <br />It allows him to react faster to changing conditions. But before real-time technologie:s can <br />receive wide acceptance, they must first be configured to meet the needs of water managers, <br />be it for wildlife refuges, irrigation companies, or municipal systems. <br /> <br />Real-Time Technologies: <br />An integration of computers, <br />remote units, and <br />communications equipment to <br />connect the water manager <br />with his field sites. <br /> <br />..~ <br />O~ <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />The Provo Projects Office (PRO) and the Denver Office (DO), of the Bureau of Reclamation <br />(Reclamation), and Utah State University (USU) have been working with water managers in <br />Utah on low-cost real-time monitoring systems. These systems have been well received and <br />have generated a lot of interest for adding further sophistication to systems, i.e., remote <br /> <br />_c l. <br />