Abstract: An improved evaporation pan assembly having at least three float assemblies attached to the outer side wall of a circular shaped evaporation pan located in 120 degrees increments. An anchor assembly is included having a steel pole driven into the bed sediment. An open ring guide or a hollow, open-ended tube is attached to one of the three float assemblies and is intended to slip over the driven pole extending out of the water. Using this design, the floating evaporation pan may move freely around the anchor assembly due to wind, changes in stage, currents, etc., but still will maintain the pan in a level position upon the water body surface.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a bi-directional DC motor; a gear reducer connected to the DC motor; a pulley mounted on an output of the gear reducer; an anti-back drive brake mounted on the output of the gear reducer; a reel wound with cable; a second pulley attached to the reel wound with cable; a belt for connecting the pulley and the second pulley; a water measuring device attached to an end of the cable wound on the reel; at least one shaft encoder attached to the motor for measuring the speed and direction of the motor; a DC power source connected to the DC motor; a microprocessor control electronics module connected to the at least one shaft encoder and the DC motor; and a remote control in communication with the microprocessor control electronics module.

Abstract: A nitrate reduction device has a cadmium structure forming a plurality of longitudinal channels within a flow chamber, which may be formed by a plurality of wires. The device is used to reduce nitrate to a final nitrite product for analysis.

Abstract: A solar distillation loop apparatus includes a first pipe section disposed on a ground surface, the first pipe section including a substantially straight portion and elevated portions on each end of the substantially straight portion, an impure water inflow coupling at one end of the straight portion and an impure water outflow coupling at the other end of the straight portion; solar powered fans disposed in each of the elevated portions of the first pipe section; a second pipe section disposed under the ground surface beneath the first pipe section; and two substantially vertical pipe sections that connect respective ends of the second pipe section to respective ends of the first pipe section.

Abstract: A continuous flow measurement recorder is provided for making water flow measurements in an open channel. An ultrasonic sensor obtains pressure head measurements upstream from a flume or weir located in the open channel. A central processing unit receives the head measurements from the sensor and calculates the water flow rate and the total flow. A liquid crystal display device displays the water flow rate and the total water flow calculated by a central processing unit. A common, portable, easy to install housing is used to house and protect the sensor, central processing unit, and display device.

Abstract: A method for treating nitrate-contaminated water comprising treating said water with hydrogen-oxidizing denitrifying bacteria in the presence of hydrogen. The apparatus for use in this method preferably comprises: (a) a pure culture of autotrophic, hydrogen-oxidizing denitrifying bacteria; (b) a hydrogen generator; (c) a flow-through bioreactor; and (d) a filtration unit.

Abstract: A bio-hydraulic testing system is provided for simulating the effect on fish of at least one hydraulic system component. A water flow introduction device introduces a flow of water into the testing system, and a fish introduction means introduces a plurality of fish into the testing system. A flow introduction conduit receives a flow containing water from the flow introduction device and fish from the fish introduction device. A testing module receives the flow from the flow introduction conduit. Monitoring device monitor and record fish activity in the water flow in the testing module. Fish exit the testing module into a flow exit conduit, and are collected by fish collection device located downstream of the exit conduit. Finally, discharge device discharge the water from the testing system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing non-contact inspection of large concrete structures such as dams. A phrased array acoustic source transmits an acoustic wave onto the concrete structure. A laser transmitter-receiver unit transmits a laser beam onto the surface of the structure such that the beam is modulated by the acoustic wave and reflected back to the receiver portion of the unit. The acoustic wave will be distorted by defects or anomalies in the concrete structure and this will affect the signal content of the received laser beam. The laser beam is ultimately converted into a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional tomographic image for further processing.

Abstract: A sprinkler measuring cup device is provided for use in evaluating sprinkler performance. The device is of a one-piece construction and allows measurement of depth of water applied. The measuring device is shaped to allow a plurality of devices to be staked one on top of the other. The device includes a central cup and peripheral ground piercing legs.

Abstract: A cement repair material composition is provided for repairing thin concrete. The composition comprises, in weight percentages: fine aggregates, 50-80%; cement, 10-20%, said cement being selected from the group consisting of expansive hydraulic cement, gypsum cement, and magnesium phosphate cement; reinforcing fibers such as polyethylene, steel and fiberglass fibers, 1-5%; and a first water-reducing chemical additive, and a second shrinkage compensating chemical additive, a combined 0.01 to 5%.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for capturing and analyzing video images of sediment from the bottom of a body of water such as a river or sea. The apparatus includes a video imager with a close-up focus of lens adapted to collect images of sediment at the bottom of the body of water. A waterproof housing surrounds the video imager. The video images are analyzed using any appropriate algorithm to determine grain size.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a hand held, battery operated water current velocity measuring device designed for use with contact closure water current meters. The apparatus differentiates and amplifies incoming DC signals generated by the current meter into both AC and DC signals, which are then sent to a microprocessor. The microprocessor, using operations research processing, samples and evaluates both signals to determine if a contact closure has occurred (e.g., when the current meter has completed a revolution) and to distinguish an actual contact from external voltage or spurious noise pulses. Once the microprocessor has verified the occurrence of a contact closure, the microprocessor alerts the operator to the contact closure. The information may be transmitted via FM band radio frequency to one or more appropriately tuned FM radios.

Abstract: A fishway is disclosed for providing a pathway around obstacles for fish. The fishway is comprised of a pair of spaced fishway walls and a set of weirs located between the fishway walls for dissipating flow energy of water flowing through the fishway. The weirs are disposed in longitudinally spaced relation along the fishway and each consecutive pair of weirs defines a pool between the pair. The weirs are comprised of a center wall, first and second middle walls attached to the center wall on opposite sides of the center wall, and first and second outer walls which are attached at one edge to the first and second middle walls respectively and at the opposite edge to a respective one of the fishway walls. The first and second middle walls form an acute angle facing away from the flow of the water, and each attached middle and outer wall, respectively, form an angle facing towards the flow of the water which is less than 180°.

Abstract: A gate valve unit is provided for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit. The gate valve unit includes a valve body including a conduit connector member or flange. A valve face block affixed to the valve body includes first and second backwardly sloped surfaces. A pair of movable gate leaves are disposed on the first and second surfaces of the face block and are movable away from and toward a central passage through the unit for controlling fluid flow through the unit. A face seal provides a seal between the surfaces of the face block and the gate leaves. A visor seal is attached to the valve body which is movable between an operative position in which the visor seal provides sealing between the gate leaves, and an inoperable position away from the gate leaves so as to not interfere with the operation of the gate leaves.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for determining the level of a body of water, whether free flowing or stationary. Positionable mirrors are located at an area adjacent to but spaced from the body of water. The mirrors direct a laser beam at an angle to true vertical onto the surface of the body of water such that a portion of the beam is reflected from the surface. A receiver is located at a known distance from the mirrors on the opposite side of the body of water and in a common horizontal plane. The receiver receives a reflected laser beam and redirects the beam to a signal detector. A controller for the mirrors determines the angle to true vertical at which the mirrors are set after receiving an output from the signal detector. A simple calculation, based on the determined angle and the known distance between the mirrors and the receiver is then made of the distance from the common horizontal plane to the water surface so as to determine the water level.

Abstract: A cement mixture is provided for preventing or reducing the formation of micro-cracks during hydration. The cement mixture includes both a conventional cement and a cement micro-encapsulated in a time-release polymer coating. The micro-encapsulated cement does not hydrate until a few hours to a few days after the bulk of the conventional cement has hydrated, thereby allowing for autogenous healing of small cracks.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for determining the level of a body of water, whether free flowing or stationary. A rotatable reflective element is located at an area adjacent to the body of water. The reflective element is driven by a rotating motor shaft and includes a reflective surface extending 45° to the shaft axis. Rotation of the reflective surface provides scanning of a laser beam directed axially thereon. During scanning, the beam is directed at an angle to true vertical onto the surface of the body of water such that a portion of the beam is reflected from the surface. A detector array, located on the opposite side of the body of water and in a common horizontal plane with the reflective element, produces an output after receiving the reflected beam. A controller arrangement, including a counter which begins counting when-the scanned beam is vertical and which stops counting when a signal corresponding to the array output is received, determines the scan angle to true vertical.

Abstract: A material provided for sealing leaks in water conveyance systems includes a porous hydrophilic rubber impregnated with a water reactive polyurethane resin. When the material comes into contact with water, the rubber and polyurethane swell and this results in increased adhesion and improved sealing.

Abstract: A fistula device is provided for use with fish to gather materials, e.g., eggs, from inside an exterior body wall of the fish. The fistula device includes a body member having a flange at one end thereof. The flange, in use, engages an outside surface of the exterior body wall of the fish to hold the device in place. The device also includes a hollow cylindrical body portion having both internal and external threading. A retaining ring is adapted to be placed against an interior surface of the exterior wall of the fish, and includes internal threading permitting the ring to be screwed onto the external threading of the body member. A knitted plastic mesh is secured to the retaining ring and adapted to be sutured to the inside of the exterior body wall of the fish. A removable plug used to close off the device includes a threaded portion adapted to be screwed into the body member.

Abstract: Ozone is used to rapidly oxidize specific metallic elements. The insoluble oxidized compounds of the metals formed by the ozonation are then recovered for industrial use in a conventional sedimentation/filtration tank or pool. There is no requirement for pre-treating or neutralizing the acid mine discharge, even when iron is the dominant metal. If the pH of the untreated acid mine discharge is less than about 2.5, metals other than iron precipitated first. After that, the pH is raised and the iron is precipitated as ferric hydroxide. Aluminum is removed as hydrated aluminum compounds after removal of the iron prior to discharging the acid mine discharge to streams. Both the ozonation and neutralization processes are monitored and controlled using electrochemical sensors and feedback controllers.