Optimum hydrometric site selection

Hydrometry is an important branch of hydrological engineering dating back to more than 4000 years to installations in the river Nile, Egypt; nonetheless, in many countries this science has often taken second place in hydraulic works. All too frequently one finds that the budget for hydrometric installations is left for the remnant of a project, and if any preinstallation for sensors and scales has been foreseen, it is usually unsatisfactory. In addition, all systems and structures require postwork maintenance. This is valid for hydrometric elements too. A hydrometric maintenance contract is the only way to ensure that the objective of the civil work is maintained and valid discharge data are measured. In the case of water quality sensors, a more exhaustive maintenance schedule must be undertaken to ensure reliable data for the life of the station. First-class water management requires accurate water measurement; second-class water management is not acceptable.