New Water Level and Flow Monitoring Station at NSC

On October 19, 2021, Water Survey of Canada (WSC) installed a new water level stilling well and equipment shelter to the southeast of the main harbour access ramp. WSC employees Adam Dowler and Ryan Redmond oversaw and assisted the contractor, ProPost, during the installation of an insulated galvanized stilling well with associated screw pile supports.

The Ottawa River is an important river environmentally and economically, as well as for recreation and leisure. Most recently, during the 2017 and 2019 floods, the Nepean Sailing Club, Environment & Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Water Survey of Canada (WSC), and the general public all took note of this. Water level and flow monitoring assists all interested parties with the management and use of the river.

ECCC has maintained a water level and flow monitoring station on this section of the river since 1915, and on NSC grounds since 2010. WSC’s equipment had been maintained underneath the patio. This solar powered station utilized a data logger and a pressure system to sample and collect water level every 5 minutes; this data was then transmitted hourly utilizing Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) technology. After the floods, it was determined that an improvement to the monitoring system was required.

Through informal and formal conversations between NSC management, WSC Engineering, and regional WSC employees, a plan was developed and a licence agreement was secured to install an improved station on NSC grounds. An aluminum equipment shelter was placed on top to house the monitoring equipment. The new installation utilizes float based technology to monitor and log the water level, and a redundant pressure based system also ensures data quality and continuity.

The station will continue to monitor and record water levels every 5 minutes and transmit the data hourly. For all water level and flow information for Ottawa River at Britannia (02KF005), or any of the other 2500+ stations monitored, please refer to the Water Survey of Canada website.
New Water Level and Flow Monitoring Station at NSC.

Page Updated: 2023-07-31