• Geotechnical instrumentation, a form of geotechnical engineering that assesses soil stability, is conducted by Monitel at a site in Perth, Western Australia.

Hydraulic Piezometer Installation & Monitoring Services

Also known as a flushable or dual-tube piezometer, the hydraulic piezometer is perfect for harsh subsurface environments, long-term deployments and applications where a simple yet robust system is ideal.

These sensors carry no electronics at their tip and use a passive hydraulic circuit to relay pore pressure from a buried filter tip up to a remote readout location. Because of their high-performance in low-permeability soils, they are well suited to monitoring in boreholes and tailings dams.

At Monitel, we provide end-to-end service for hydraulic piezometer systems, guiding your program from design and installation to calibration, flushing, monitoring and maintenance.

Why Use Hydraulic Piezometers?

A hydraulic piezometer offers 5 key benefits for geotechnical monitoring systems in Western Australia:

  • No electronics at tip: Reducing the risk of signal or component failure in saturated zones
  • Flushable circuit: The twin hydraulic lines can be purged to remove air or gas accumulation, ensuring the circuit remains accurate
  • Can measure positive and negative pressures: Making them useful in partially saturated or suction conditions
  • Long-term stability: These sensors are constructed with materials that are non-corroding and the design is inherently simple
  • Compatibility: Pressure readings can be made via Bourdon gauge or remote transducers at the terminal station

Monitel’s Hydraulic Piezometer Range

At Monitel, we often utilise a hydraulic piezometer created by Soil Instruments. It’s designed for highly sensitive pore water pressure measurements and is ideal for saturated conditions in embankments, foundations and earthworks. With minimal temperature sensitivity and excellent long-term stability, it provides accurate readings even in low-permeability soils.

However, our team pride themselves on a commitment to being technology and product agnostic. That means we have no commitment to any one company or sensor and will always choose the piezometer best suited to your project. With a solutions-based approach, we prioritise your results and compliance, not our bottom line.

Our Hydraulic Piezometer Services

System Design & Specification

We work with your engineering team to specify the filter tip type (high/low air entry), tubing length, terminal location and reading method – matching each to your geology, site constraints and regulatory considerations.

Installation & Commissioning

Our field teams deploy piezometer tips to the specified depth, installing twin hydraulic tubing back to the readout station. We then dill and de-air the circuit before confirming system responsiveness. Finally, we flush the system to expel any trapped air and verify a “hard” circuit.

Data Interface & Monitoring Integration

We will always ensure that your monitoring is compatible with existing or new loggers, transducers or gauges. Our team can adapt the readout station to your data system, providing connectivity and thresholds for alerts.

Periodic Flushing & Maintenance

It’s possible that gas bubbles and debris can enter the system over time. Monitel provides scheduled flushing, re-purging and maintenance services after installation to help ensure accuracy. We can also inspect tubing, seals and the terminal stations.

Troubleshooting & Support

If your data appears erratic, shifted or unresponsive, we can troubleshoot leaks, air ingress, blockages and tubing damages. Our team will provide full documentation and reporting so your monitoring stays reliable.

Applications We Support

Hydraulic piezometers are best suited to:

  • Groundwater piezometer monitoring in sites where electronics are undesirable
  • Fine soils and partially saturated zones
  • Long-term monitoring programs in remote or difficult to access environments
  • Seepage monitoring, embankments, dams slopes and infrastructure foundations

Hydraulic piezometers can work in tandem with other types Monitel deploys. Get in touch with our team to see if a hybrid network with vibrating wire, standpipe and other piezometer models may work well on your site.

Compliance & Reliability

At Monitel, we recognise that regulatory compliance is one of the most important factors behind a monitoring program. We construct all of our systems to align with Western Australian legal frameworks including WHS (Mines) Regulations and Department of Water & Environmental Regulation (DWER) requirements.
We document every installation, calibration and maintenance action to support audits or regulatory review. Our team are also available to assist with your reporting, should you require.

Get in Touch for Groundwater & Borehole Piezometer Monitoring

Understanding pore pressure is essential for safe and compliant project delivery.

At Monitel, we utilise hydraulic piezometers when site conditions demand a robust solution in challenging, low-permeability soils. Whether integrated into a larger program or installed as a standalone device, our solutions-focused approach ensures accurate installation, reliable readings and ongoing technical support.

For more information or to enquire about a monitoring system, please get in touch with Monitel today.