Watershed Wednesday: Piezometers vs. Wells

Jul 6

Let’s talk groundwater monitoring! Groundwater data is crucial to the success of the ongoing restoration at the Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve. At the IAWP, we monitor both piezometers and wells. Piezometers and monitoring wells are pipes that allow water to rise and fall as a way of measuring the level of groundwater. Although they appear same on the outside, they both serve different functions.

Monitoring wells have breaks along the lengths of the sections of pipe that are below the ground. These breaks allow water pressure along the length of the entire pipe to be measured. Piezometers on the other hand only measure groundwater at the bottom of the pipe, as there is only one way in and one way out for the water to travel. Piezometers are excellent for capturing water flow, strata permeability, and depth of water pressure. Monitoring wells are efficient at capturing overall groundwater depth and extend through multiple layers of soil.

Both sets of measurements are important in the restoration of the IAWP – you can get involved as well! Visit www.gallatinwatershedcouncil.org/volunteer to sign up to be an IAWP Busy Beaver volunteer to help collect data and be a part of the restoration of the largest urban wetland in Montana!