Abstract: A water wheel comprising a rotor, having a plurality of buckets longitudinally and tangentially extending about its periphery, and a shaft, which centrally engages the rotor and is rotated by movement of the rotor. The buckets are unitary in construction and are level compensating, remaining essentially perpendicular to the direction of the falling water stream during those periods of time when the buckets are filled with water. The water wheel is mounted on a plurality of standards, having rollers, which are movable on tracks toward or away from the falling water stream. A compensating flywheel is provided to maintain uniform movement during water head variations.