Introduction

There are many key processes involved in the flow regime of unsaturated soil systems. Understanding and measuring these processes are important in design of infrastructure, as well as understanding potential transport processes that may occur, such as at waste rock dumps or tailings ponds. Lysimeters are devices that are designed to measure the net percolation of water through an unsaturated zone. These lysimeters are often buried, for example, below clay-lined containment systems to monitor the performance of the liner. The intent is to collect the water that percolates through the liner and measure the volume of water through a system that drains into a nearby collection station.

The design of lysimeters requires careful consideration to ensure that the device will collect representative data on the drainage processes occurring in the material of interest. For example, the height of the side walls is a key consideration that may influence the performance of the lysimeter. 

The objective of this example is to illustrate the potential issues that can arise when using lysimeters to monitor unsaturated flow systems.

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