OTT Orpheus Mini and ITC Provide Remote Access to Water Level Data Critical to Monitoring Levee Repairs

In late August of 2005, the storm surge from Hurricane Katrina damaged two sections of the back levee near Braithwaite and Scarsdale, two towns located Southeast of New Orleans, Louisiana. The substantial damage to the Caernarvon outfall area and the Breton Sound estuary prompted the Interagency Advisory Committee and the Caernarvon Technical work group to discuss changes to the operational plan that would benefit the affected area. The changes need to allow for discharges up to 7,500 cubic feet per second for 20 days during a portion of the year.

Once daily repairs and inspections of the two breaches in the back levee began, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources needed real-time water level monitoring on the damaged sections of the levees to allow for timely adjustments to discharge amounts in the outfall area.

CSRS Engineering subcontracted ENCOS, INC to install and operate two data collection platforms (DCP's) to monitor water levels near the two back levee breaches. In collaboration with Hach Environmental, ENCOS selected two products from the OTT product line to meet the accuracy, durability, and technological data requirements of this project.

The instruments selected were the OTT ITC (Intelligent Top Cap), with integral cellular modem, and the OTT Orpheus Mini vented water level sensor. The compact and unobtrusive design of the ITC was an attractive alternative to the bulkier box type Datalogger/telemetry systems considered in the past. And its SMS cellular technology allowed data to be sent on an hourly basis. The small design of the Orpheus Mini vented water level sensor allowed flexible mounting options for the variety of station designs.

The DCPs became operational on April 26, 2006, and have been consistently delivering the critical water level data ever since, allowing CSRS and ENCOS to make water management decisions based on real time data.

For more information about OTT water quantity monitoring instruments, including the OTT Orpheus Mini and ITC, visit http://www.hachenvironmental.com/products/ottitc.asp, or contact your sales rep today.