MSD Rain Gauges

This layer contains point locations for each of MSDs rain gauge sites (existing and previous).

(Historical Sites are still referenced and should remain in this layer)

Rain gauges are installed at various MSD Water Quality Treatment Centers (WQTC), Pump Stations, Flood Pump Stations. Rain gauges are also installed at other various location which include schools, fire stations and golf courses that operate in Jefferson County, KY and Floyd County, IN. Feature attribute table has a field that indicates which county/state rain gauge is located.

History:

The first rain gauges were installed in 1991 as a joint effort between MSD and the United Geological Survey (USGS). The rain gauge information was to be used for MSD studies and USGS research. In 1997, MSD took over sole responsibility of the rain gauge network. These data logger rain gauges were non-telemetered and required MSD personnel to download the information that was stored within the rain gauge. Though labor intensive, these rain gauges work extremely well and remain in operation today.

In 1997, eleven telemetry-equipped rain gauges were installed. The majority of these rain gauges were installed at MSD facilities located throughout Jefferson County. For the purposes of emergency response support, these rain gauges performed adequately. However, with the implementation of the Real Time Control (RTC) project, these telemetered rain gauges did not meet the requirements of the RTC. Their geographic distribution and the telemetry system used at the time were deemed insufficient to provide the needed information in a timely manner. In order to meet the goals of the RTC project and to provide even better emergency response support, the telemetered rain gauge system needed to be updated.

Further Expansion of the Rain Gauge Network:

MSD is in the process of establishing three satellite-enabled rain gauges in the Southern Indiana Counties of Harrison, Floyd and Clark. These proposed rain gauges will provide MSD with the ability to better calibrate our rainfall predictions based on storms approaching from the northwest. Since the RTC project requires a two-hour predictive capability, rain gauges located outside of Jefferson County will provide MSD with the needed data.

How Do Telemetered Rain Gauges Work?:

Rainfall data is obtained from a tipping bucket type rain gauge. It gets that name because rainfall that enters the rain gauge is funneled down to a small “bucket” that will tip and empty when 0.01 inches of rain is collected. This tipping action is measured by the electronics in the rain gauge, which is then transmitted, to a central receiving station at MSD. The amount of rain (tips) is accumulated and every 5 minutes the data is stored in MSD’ database for an accurate history of the rainstorm.