Environment Canada’s Research Support Services (RSS) have been invited to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Water Survey of Canada (WSC) and the U.S. Geological Survey to develop and implement an inter-facility comparison of current meter calibrations. RSS have been operating Canada’s only current meter tow tank facility at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters (CCIW) for approximately 40 years. Their clients include federal and provincial agencies, municipal and regional organizations, and educational and private institutions.

Bob Rowsell (RSS) presented a comprehensive overview of the CCIW tow tank facility at meetings between WSC and the U.S. Geological Survey in January 2012. The meetings were hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Surface Water, at their Hydraulic Research Facility at the Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The presentation was well received, and Dr. Al Petronairo (WSC) encouraged the partners to include RSS in the MOU. The Canadian and U.S. facilities will exchange current meters and methods to assist with water quantity measurement comparisons between both nations.

As the meetings were taking place, the tow tank was undergoing final repairs stemming from unique circumstances in July 2011 that caused two of six observation windows to crack. To avert a catastrophic release of water and allow repair and replacement of all six windows, the tank was completely drained for the first time in its 40 year history. The tank was refilled and calibrations began again in February 2012.  It is anticipated that the tank will provide the same level of service for current meter repair and calibration for many years to come.

Contacts: John Cooper, J.Cooper@ec.gc.ca; Bob Rowsell, Bob.Rowsell@ec.gc.ca | Research Support Services