Gloved hand adjusting a stream gauge in meltwater.

November 4, 2026 · 11 min

What a river level reading means

The number on a river gauge, what the metres mean and why a river can drop in a day. Builds on “Where a glass of water comes from”.

Valley Water Notes

A short letter every Sunday: one piece of water news explained, with the numbers made small.

One email every Sunday. Unsubscribe any time.

More posts

  • Retreating Andean glacier with meltwater streams.

    What a small glacier holds

    A glacier you can walk beside, and how many bathtubs of water are locked in it. Read it after “How much water a large glacier holds”.

    13 min read
  • Stone irrigation canal through terraced fields at dawn.

    How much water a canal carries in a day

    How a stone canal feeds a valley, how fast the water moves and how much goes by in a day. Builds on “How a village tank is shared out”.

    12 min read