Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Totalizing flow meters are generally accurate, but are expensive and subject, to <br />mechanical failure. For example, in New Mexico's Pecos River basin, the failure rates have <br />been as high as one-third of the metered wells.' The failure rates also appears to be quite <br />high in the Arkansas River Valley.' Colorado does allow use of totalizing flow meters as <br />a measuring option because in some instances they are the only viable method available. <br /> <br />Determination of power conversion coefficients allows the calculation of total pumping <br />using readily obtainable data for electrically powered wells. The PCC method allows for the <br />determination to be made on wells with or without totalizing meters and for wells on which <br />meters have failed. Therefore, by using the power conversion coefficient and power records, <br />there is a continuous record of the quantity pumped. <br /> <br />The PCC method has been successfully used in many areas and is well documented <br />in published literature. The report of the Special Master (Volume I page 202) recognizes <br />"[e]stimates from this methodology can be quite reliable...". Guttentag and SbJllken (1976) <br />used this method to determine the quantity of ground water pumped in western Kansas. 6 <br />Baker (1979) states that in western Kansas, <br /> <br />" ... Values obtained from discharge-totaling meters are <br />reasonably accurate, but few wells are equipped with the meters, <br />and the cost of equipping all wells with meters may be <br />prohibitive. Measured rates of power consumption can give <br />good estimates of total withdrawal from wells where the power <br />consumption is measured... "7 <br /> <br />The State of California (1968) recommends the use of power conversion coefficients <br />and states, "[t]his method has proven particularly valuable since, in many instances, power <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />Brim, Glenn, 1995, Slate of New Mexico, Office of the Slate Engineer, Roswell, New Mexico, <br />Personal communication. <br /> <br />Witte, Steve, 1995, Slate of Colorado, Division Engineer, Pueblo, Colorado, Personal <br />communication. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Guttenlag, E.D., and SbJllken, L.E., 1976, Ground-Water Resources of Lane and Scott Counties, <br />Western Kansas: Kansas Geological Survey, Irrigation Series No. 1. <br /> <br />7 <br /> <br />Baker, C.H., Jr.. 1979, Evaluation of Methods for Estimating Ground-Water Withdrawals in <br />Western Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Investigations 79-92. <br /> <br />15 <br />