Flumes can show discharge flowing through channels but not able to record data on it. In Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM), irrigation department has to maintain record for discharge flowing through distributory / minor water user society (WUA) and for micro network.

In present system, department has deputed field staff to maintain record on register. In this system deficiencies may occur due to human errors in readings, less awareness at lower staff, limitation of administrator as area network in hundreds of square kilometers. Water user societies generally object on quantum of water and create disputes.

Transparency in the discharge measurement system is the only solution on these disputes and can be achieved by using “Electromechanical Recorders”.

Object of recorder is to measure, record, store, analyze and print any relative change in the water head of fiberglass flume. This recorder is installed at the top of the chamber connected to flume for steady flow. Float is kept inside the chamber. Rising or falling down water level in closed chamber will be relatively transformed to float and gear/ pulley mechanism. This float movement will be electronically sensed and generated data will be stored in hardware of recorder unit. Same data will be transmitted to control station for recording & printing or mail through computer software by following two methods.

• Manual Data Transmission :

  Dongle like electric plug when put to recorder, transmits data within two minutes. No electricity is required. When same dongle put to mobile printer, data can transfer to mobile printer for storage and issue prints preceded date and time interval.

• Automatic Data Transmission :

  Data on recorder can transmit by sending SMS through GSM modem technology directly to the office and can also display on “Display Board” showing date, time, water head and discharge and store for analysis.

To analyze data received on dongle or through SMS, software system is available on computer or direct print for date, time, head and discharge can be achieved. On computer software following data can easily generate.

• Printed data showing name of office, jurisdiction, name of canal , type of flume and capacity etc. of given location.
• Automatic data recording for date, time, water head in flume and discharge for 24 hours at predecided time interval on hardware.
• Volumetric measurement by considering one unit as one thousand cubic meter and produce bill like telephone or electricity departments.
• Bill shows previous readings and current readings in stipulated time, units consumed in this period and amount payable for society or industry. Rates as per Kharif / Rabbi season can feed to the software.
• Account ledger will maintain as per bill and amount received to irrigation department.
• Water accounting statements where group of recorders installed under one distributory / minor.
• Prepare history record for future to analyze in better way.
• Graphical and numerical presentation for data received in week, fortnight , month and year or even for specific time period.