Groundwater telemetry uses sensors in wells and wireless links to send water level and quality readings automatically to a central system.
Groundwater telemetry automatically collects readings from wells and sends them to a central system, which replaces manual visits. A typical station has a pressure transducer or other level sensor in the well, a data logger, a battery often charged by a solar panel, and a modem that sends data over the mobile network, a radio link such as LoRa, or satellite where there is no coverage. Readings are usually taken every 15 minutes to a few hours. This shows what manual readings every few months miss, such as daily pumping cycles, the response to a storm and the effect of a neighbouring well. The sensor measures pressure, so accuracy depends on setup. Non-vented sensors read atmospheric pressure as well as water, and need a separate barometric correction. Each station needs a surveyed reference level and a periodic manual check to detect sensor drift. Common uses are aquifer monitoring by government agencies, compliance reporting on groundwater abstraction, managing utility well fields and controlling pumps. Flow meters and water quality probes for conductivity or pH can share the same logger. Data gaps should be flagged instead of filled silently, as they often point to a failing station.