SCADA systems can save precious water by providing a more effective monitoring level of high-volume groundwater wells  at any time day or night  for power consumption, flow rate, salinity and water elevation, said Reclamation Commissioner John Keys. This new SCADA automated network will enable Reclamation to improve its operation and monitoring of the Yuma areas wells and more quickly respond to high groundwater conditions.

The SCADA system will consist of a state-of-the-art computer database that interacts with monitoring equipment and radios that have been installed on almost 100 high-capacity groundwater pumping wells and drains. The project also includes the installation of radios on several observation wells that transmit daily water level information from the monitoring sites to Reclamations Yuma Area Office groundwater databank.

Installation of the new SCADA system will begin this month and is expected to be completed in two years.