Monitoring Stations are online!

From 14 June to 18 June, we had a tough field campaign to achieve three main objectives

  • Installation of pilot infiltration pits
  • Setup monitoring stations
  • Conducted a precision UAV survey of the project islands

We had to work hard, often until late, but we were able to complete everything according to the plan.

Infiltration pits

We adapted the traditional approach of the islands to manage drainage. We simply added extra barrels to the design to that it can handle more inflow.
An infiltration pit with two barrels connected in series. The tall vertical pipe on the right is for monitoring.

Groundwater monitoring stations

We installed a total of six groundwater monitoring stations which continuously (every 15 minutes) measure the groundwater level and salinity (by measuring the temperature and conductivity of water). Two stations on each island: One to monitor the impact of infiltration pits, the other as a control.

We first used a diesel auger (kindly lent by one of our advisory team members). But due to the nature of the island’s soil (Relatively soft sandy soil down to about 1 m, then a very hard compacted rocky later; finally lose sand at and below the water table.) that did not work very well below water table which occurs at around 1m depth.
We had to decide to try manual digging.

Digging and monitoring wells by hand was not easy. Kudos to the friends from the island who tirelessly worked to get this done.
Sometimes the final configurations had to be done in the field. Setting up of a rainfall monitoring system in the front yard of the island council secratariatof Kolhufushi.
Often installation took time, making us to work with flashlights. Yasindu tightening the last few bolts in the groundwater monitoring station in Mulah island.
Late and tired, but happy. Mishal, Adam, and Hassan next to a groundwater monitoring station just installed in the Mosque grounds of Kolhufushi.

All the monitors are working and are remotely reporting the data to us! At the moment we are busy setting up a nice plotting system to consume the API endpoint that is sent by the monitoring system and to present it on this website. Coming soon … Meanwhile …

A screenshot showing water level (top) and conductivity (bottom) data from our internal monitoring page.
We did the installation well into the rainy season. But we were lucky, there was no rain during the period we did the work. Just after two days, the rain started (22nd June). It seems there have been heavy rain on 25th June both in Mulah and Kolhufushi! (Note: Data not validated just yet!)