Water Level Controller Installation Examples

Rugged Construction Enables Installation with Excavators

The heavy-duty metal construction and robust pipe connection makes it possible to assemble our products on the side of the ditch before placing them. Aluminum in-line assemblies are easy to place manually. An excavator can be used to place the larger flashboard products.

Flashboard riser and HDPE pipe ready for installation
Water level control structure and pipe in ditch ready for backfilling
Six-foot flashboard riser with frame and HDPE pipe ready for installation
Excavator lifting a six-foot flashboard riser with support frame and HDPE pipe.
Excavator lifting a 2-foot flashboard riser and HDPE pipe.

Backfilling With an Excavator is Acceptable

Go slow and carefully place loose soil to secure the pipe then backfill the box. A mini is recommended because it is easier to control.

Use caution when backfilling single-sided flashboard risers. The boxes can be pushed forward and the support frames can be bent if dirt is applied too quickly.

Nothing is indestructible but our 6-inch aluminum inline structures will take a beating with no damage. The flexible coupling and pipe are the most delicate aspects of the system.

The stoplogs do not need to be installed before backfilling.

Clearly an excavator can easily smash a box or snap the pipe so careful operation is important.

Mini excavator backfilling a six-foot flashboard riser.
Mini excavator backfilling an inline water level control structure with a six-inch pvc pipe.
Mini excavator backfilling an inline water level control structure
Mini excavator backfilling an inline water level control structure
Mini excavator backfilling an inline water level control structure

Risers can be set on the ends of an existing pipe

A new pipe and riser was installed to draw water from this distribution ditch. This new riser is being added to an existing pipe so the water flow can be split and/or switched between pipes.

  • Carefully and Slowly expose the pipe and level the space below the bottom of the pipe to roughly match up with the stub on the box. A good operator can do this with an excavator but it is best finished with a shovel.

  • Do not dig too deeply because the box needs firm ground under it.

  • If the pipe end is damaged, it may need to be sawed off to present a clean end. In this example, the pipe was uncovered in good condition.

  • Lift the box in place manually or with the excavator.

  • Wrestle the box into place to get the riser stub inside the pipe. Use a shovel and/or the excavator the gently push the box into place.

  • Use the excavator and some elbow grease to square up the box into a plumb and level condition. The box is sturdy enough to withstand gentle downward pressure from the excavator to tamp it into place.

  • If desired, drive rebar pins in the box to secure it. These are not needed if the preparation is good and the box is on a secure footing.

  • Attach a cleat to hold the pipe and box together. This is important.

  • Backfill

Mini excavator pressing a 2-foot flashboard riser into place.
Fitting a 2-foot flashboard riser onto an existing drain pipe
Backfilled 2-foot flashboard riser
Two 2-foot flashboard risers on a distribution ditch

Installing a Large Steel Inline Water Level Controller

Moving an large inline water level controller into place with a crane

Moving a large steel inline water level controller into place in a ditch dug though a new dam. This structure weights 565 pounds and must be craned into place. Our aluminum DrainBox of the same size only 180 pounds and can be manually placed.

Large steel inline water level control structure positioned in a ditch

Inline drainbox is in the ditch and roughly positioned.

Driving pegs to stabilize a larger steel inline water level controller

Pegging the four corners in place with 36-inch 5/8 rebar pegs.

This is essential on large boxes to get them square and to prevent them from falling over when working to attach the pipes.

Checking to ensure a larger steel inline water level controller is plumb.

Adjust the pegs to ensure the box is plumb in both directions. Pound the pegs further into the ground on the side that will pull the box into the plumb position.

Attaching HDPE pipe to the outlet of a large steel inline water level controller

Install the outlet pipe and fasten it in place with cleats and self-drilling screws.

Installing compression clamps on HDPE Piple

Place the compression clamp(s) on the pipe outside of the ditch to make it easier to install. Snug the clamp to the pipe but do not tighten the clamp sufficiently to compress the pipe.

This pipe was sawed off to remove the mating end.

Compression clamps holding HDPE pipe on the inlet of a large steel inline water level control structure

Push the inlet pipe into place and EVENLY tighten the compression clamp(s).

Checking straightness during installation of a large steel inline water level control structure.

Slowly start backfilling and periodically check that the structure is plumb.

Backfilling a large steel inline water level control structure

CAREFULLY and strategically apply dirt to nudge the box to keep it plumb.

This installation used a 25 ton excavator for this job.

Newly installed large steel inline water level control structure

Finished Backfilling.

Allow the dirt to naturally settle.

Use a small machine to groom the area.