The Guelph Permeameter is an easy to use instrument to quickly and accurately measure in-situ hydraulic conductivity. Accurate evaluation of soil hydraulic conductivity, soil sorptivity, and matrix flux potential can be made in all types of soils. The equipment can be transported, assembled, and operated easily by one person. Measurements can be made in 1/2 to 2 hours, depending on soil type, and require only about 2.5 litres of water.
Measurements can be made in the range of 15 to 75 cm below the soil surface. The Guelph Permeameter comes as a complete Kit consisting of the permeameter, field tripod, borehole auger, borehole preparation and cleanup tools, collapsible water container, and vacuum test hand pump, all in a durable carrying case. Accessory attachments are available to extend the measurement capability of the permeameter. Depth attachments increase the depth of operation by 80 cm. The maximum practical operating depth is 315 cm. Ring attachments allow ring infiltrometers measurements with 10 cm and 20 cm diameter rings. A tension adapter allows measurements to be made under tensional and very low tension (negative head) conditions.
Auger Cutting Diameter: | 6.0 cm (2-3/8 inches) |
Well Height Range: | 2.5 cm to 25 cm |
Hydraulic Conductivity Range: | 10-4 to 10-7 m/sec (10-2 to 10-5 cm/sec) |
Collapsible Water container Capacity: | 11.36 litres (3.0 gallons) |
Maximum Permeameter Capacity: | 3.18 litres (0.84 gallons) |
Overall Carrying Case Size: | 132.08 cm (50 inches) long by 44.45 cm (17.5 inches) wide by 15.24 cm (6 inches) deep |
Overall Carrying Case Weight: | 11 kg (25 lbs) |
Depth Range, Standard Unit: | 15 to 75 cm (Note: with Extension Tubes, measuring depths can be increased) |
Combined Reservoir cross-sectional area (X value): | 35.22 cm2 (±0.18 cm2 standard deviation) |
Inner Reservoir cross-sectional area (Y value): | .16 cm2 (±0.04 cm2 standard deviation) |
Guelph Permeameter References |
Adderly, W.P. and Simpson, I.A. 2006, ‘Soils and Palaeo-climate based Evidence for Irrigation Requirements in Norse Greenland’, Journal of Archaeological Science, vol. 33, pp. 1666-1679.
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American Society for Testing and Materials 1990, ‘Standard Guide for Comparison of Field Methods for Determining Hydraulic Conductivity in the Vadose Zone. Designation: D 5126 – 90 (Reapproved 1998)‘, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA.
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Australian Standards 1999, Method 6.7.3: Soil strength and consolidation tests—Determination of permeability of a soil—Constant head method using a flexible wall permeameter. AS 1289.6.7.3-1999, SAI Global
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Azooz, R.H., Arshad, M.A. and Franzluebbers, A.J. 1996, ‘Pore Size Distribution and Hydraulic Conductivity Affected by Tillage in Northwestern Canada’, Soil Science Society of America Journal, vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 1197-1201.
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Bagarello, V. and Iovino, M. 2003, ‘Field Testing Parameter Sensitivity of the Two-term Infiltration Equation Using Differentiated Linearization’, Vadose Zone Journal, vol. 2, pp. 358-367.
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Giakoumakis, S.G. and Tsakiris, G.P. 1999, ‘Quick Estimation of Hydraulic Conductivity in Unsaturated Sandy Loam Soil’, Irrigation and Drainage Systems, vol. 13, pp. 349-359.
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Mikulec, V. 2005, ‘Impact of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity of Soils on Numerical Simulation of Soil Water Movement‘, in Monitoring and Modelling the Properties of Soil as a Porous Medium, eds. W.M. Skierucha and R.T. Walczak, Institute of Agrophysics PAS, Lublin, pp. 86-94.
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Murray, C.J., Ward, A.L. and Wilson, J.L. 2007, ‘Influence of Clastic Dikes on Vertical Migration of Contaminants at the Hanford Site’, Vadose Zone Journal, vol. 6, pp. 959-970.
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Rasmussen, T.C., Baldwin Jr., R.H., Dowd, J.F. and Williams, A.G. 2000, ‘Tracer vs. Pressure Wave Velocities through Unsaturated Saprolite’, Soil Science Society of America Journal, vol. 64, pp. 75-85.
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Reynolds, W.D. and Zebchuk, W.D. 1996, ‘Hydraulic Conductivity in a Clay Soil: Two Measurement Techniques and Spatial Characterization’, Soil Science Society of America Journal, vol. 60, pp. 1679-1685.
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Starr, J.L., Sadeghi, A.M. and Pachepsky, Y.A. 2005, ‘Monitoring and Modeling Lateral Transport through a Large In Situ Chamber’, Soil Science Society of America Journal, vol. 69, pp. 1871-1880.
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Xiang, J., Scanlon, B.R., Mullican III, W.F., Chen, L. and Goldsmith, R.S. 1997, ‘A Multistep Constant-head Borehole Test to Determine Field Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity of Layered Soils’, Advances in Water Resources, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 45-57.
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