RE: Diviner 2000 access tubes

[Dale Hardin]

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Dear Jac and List,

I install the EnviroSCAN and Diviner access tubes in similar sandy soils(?)
here in Florida.  I find that it is faster to install the access tube using
the inside auger-drive method rather than the outside auger/kaolin
clay-cement method.  In very dry conditions, you may have a problem keeping
the hole from collapsing before you can insert the tube and slurry.  If you
auger below the water table, the hole will fill with water.  (Ever try to
dig a hole at the beach?)  Thus, the inside auger-drive method is my
preference.  Then, when I encounter a shallow water table, I use a
dewatering pump and well point to temporarily dewater the site until I am
finished with the installation.

As for drilling in rocky soils, I have drilled about a 100 sites near
Homestead, Florida in a coral rubble overlying coral limestone.  Of
necessity, the bottom of the hole needed to be drilled into the limestone
proper.  I used a 2-inch tungsten-tipped flighted auger and a small portable
auger drilling platform to accomplish this.  The rig used is the "Dr. Diggs"
model from Deeprock Drilling Company in Opelika, Alabama.  They have a
website.  (The usual disclaimer).

Lets see, beach sands, high water table, rubbly soils, limestone, somehow
I've been able to figure it out.  The great thing about the EnviroSCAN and
Diviner is that it will work wherever you can install an access tube (Sorry,
I'm a distributor, so you are warned).  I am interested in installation
techniques and I will be happy to give advice to anyone with a difficult
installation problem.

Regards, Dale Hardin

Dale Hardin
Agricultural Information Technologies, Inc.
204 E. McKenzie St., Suite E
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
(941) 505-9197


You don't miss your water 'till your well runs dry.  (Taj Mahal)

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-sowacs@aqua.ccwr.ac.za [mailto:owner-sowacs@aqua.ccwr.ac.za]
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2000 20:53 PM
Subject: Diviner 2000 access tubes


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I recently acquired a Diviner2000 moisture probe. The supplier installs the
access tubes by drilling a hole of 10mm  bigger OD, inserts the PVC tube and
settles it in with a clay mixture (similar to potters clay - the exact
compostion I am not sure of), to ensure perfect contact between tube and
soil.

We work with sand (as in sand dunes) with moisture holding capacity as low
as 45 mm/m.

I am wondering what the effect of the clay band in direct contact with the
tube could be.
Can I assume that the sand-clay will reach equilibrium, in a short enough
time to give me the correct response.

Your comments will be appreciated.

Thank you: Jac le Roux
jac@besproeiing.co.za