Piezometer Applications
Piezometers measure pore-water pressure and ground water levels, providing information essential to:
- Understanding initial site conditions.
- Determining safe rates for placement of fill
- Predicting slope stability.
- Designing for lateral earth pressures.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of drainage schemes.
- Checking the performance of containment systems.
Types of Piezometers
Standpipe Piezometers
The standpipe piezometer is the most basic type of piezometer. It consists of filter tip joined to a riser pipe that extends to the surface. Water flows through the filter tip into the riser pipe. Readings are obtained with a water level indicator.
Vibrating Wire Piezometers
The vibrating wire piezometer is the most commonly deployed type of piezometer. Suitable for most applications, it can be installed in a borehole, embedded in fill, or suspended in a standpipe. Readings are obtained with a portable readout or a data logger.
Pneumatic Piezometers
The pneumatic piezometer operates by gas pressure. It can be installed in a borehole, embedded in fill, or suspended in a large diameter standpipe. Readings are obtained with a pneumatic indicator.
Titanium Piezometer
The titanium piezometer is a 4-20mA device that is compatible with industrial data loggers. It is generally used for drawdown tests.
More Information
- Click links above to visit the web pages for each type of piezometer. Then view the following pages:
- Applications for piezometers
- Comparison of piezometers
- Piezometer FAQ.