Plans for the First Water Level Gauge

[1817] (Hungary)

Plans of the first water level gauge (Plan des in der königsSchloss Wassermaschin neu zu errichtenden Pegels, Niveau Cotten sammt Höhen, des Pegels, bey der hiesigen könig. caal Wasser Maschine)

National Archives of Hungary
HU-MNL-OL – T 14 – № 1/72, 1/73

Europe has had a long history of works related to water management and hydraulic engineering. By the latter decades of the 18th century, water level measurement was recognised for its importance in terms of navigation and river regulation, particularly for transportation planning, flood prevention and irrigation. However measurement techniques and instruments were poorly standardised, with irregula designs.

In 1816, Johann von Svoboda, director of the State Direction of Water and Architecture (Directio in hydraulicis et aedibus) in Hungary, applied for the cost of producing two reliable water level gauges. The State Direction of Water and Architecture had been founded in 1788, by King Joseph II, in order to supervise river regulation, road and bridge construction, and other civil engineering works. It was subordinated to the supreme interior organ, the Hungarian Royal Locotenentul Council.

Svoboda’s request, directed to the Hungarian Royal Chamber and the Hungarian Royal Locotenentul Council, asked for the funds and presented a specific new design for the desired water level gauge. The vertical water gauge was supposed to be fixed to the ground, but it could not be set directly on the Danube or in the riverbed. It was attached instead to the front channel of the Danube of the Royal Waterworks (near Buda Castle), which was directly connected to the river. The water meter gauge was prepared by Gregor Huck, a master from Vienna.

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