Surface Water Withdrawal and Flow Monitoring Station
Pennsylvania
Monitoring of a cross-sectional velocity flow station to establish a local gaging point as part of
a Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) Surface Water Withdrawal Permit for natural
gas development. Permit conditions required one year of flow measurements to develop a
stage/discharge curve allowing prediction of stream flows from water levels in the station
stilling well using a pressure transducer. An Establishment Report was prepared for the SRBC
to certify the station as a reliable measure of flow. This station allows the operator to
determine allowable pumping days directly at the site rather than relying on more distant
USGS gaging stations that may not accurately reflect local conditions.
Sustainable Water Management for a Changing WorldSM
Representative Water Withdrawal and Flow Monitoring
Groundwater Withdrawal Hydrogeologic Assessment
Pennsylvania
Preparation of a Waiver Request from pump testing requirements to permit the use of a large
gravel quarry pool as a water take point to service natural gas operations. The pool is located
adjacent to the Susquehanna River, requiring interpretation of the potential effects of pumping
on river levels during low flow. Continuously recording pressure transducers were installed in
the pool and river and monitored to determine the relationship between the two water bodies.
It was demonstrated that the pool level is independent of the river, and that the recharge for
the pool comes from upgradient sources.
Landfill and Mine Drainage Take Point Monitoring Stations
Pennsylvania
Installation and calibration of five flow measurement devices to monitor withdrawals of
wastewater and acid mine drainage at a landfill site for use in natural gas operations. Two
types of instruments were installed: in-line turbine devices for measuring the quantity of water
pumped to transport trucks, and acoustic water level recorders to monitor flow rates in H
flumes that measure the mine drainage flows. Wastewater and acid mine drainage are
attractive for water supplies because these sources are not as intensely regulated by the
SRBC.
Take Point Water Availability Modeling
Pennsylvania and Ohio
Development of site-specific water availability models to predict the volume of water that could
be withdrawn from a stream during a given period based on historic flow records and seasonal
regulatory stream flow protection standards. Availability models are tied to a hydrofracturing
schedule, allowing operators to adjust schedules to make maximum use of less expensive
surface water sources rather than trucked water. This type of modeling is also used to
optimally size storage impoundments based on a statistical probability of retaining sufficient
water for the project with ongoing pumping, and for evaluating the cost benefits of constructing
overland supply lines between projects.
