Importance Of Monitoring Water Tanks
For certain industries, water storage tanks are very important for a variety of reasons from cutting costs, to going green. Farms, for example, can save money by reducing water waste after studying data captured by different remote sensors. These sensors deliver data to a central location where analysts study inefficiencies learned from monitoring water levels. Water utilities are cutting costs significantly through accurate monitoring.
Types of Monitoring Sensors
New technology has delivered a wide array of sensors for monitoring indoor and outdoor environments. Sensors are designed based on the metrics they collect, such as whether they are placed in stationary or mobile machinery. The most common type of sensor for a water storage tank is a float sensor, which opens or closes a mechanical switch based on the water level.
Magnetic float sensors can be used for a variety of different applications due to their simplicity and low cost, driven by magnetic energy. Some companies use them for computer notifications or other types of alerts as to when to turn the pump on or off. Some of the key metrics derived from monitoring water levels include temperature and pressure.
Importance of Monitoring Water Tanks
Real-time data is now the key to fixing equipment problems sooner rather than later. Deploying a remote telemetry unit (RTU) in your facility will accelerate your response time when you receive an automated alert about water storage tank status. This transponder sends you an alert when data on monitoring water levels reaches your programmed threshold. Some RTUs give detailed notifications and diagnostic information via email or text so the message can be easily forwarded to alert employees.
Owning an extensive network of water tanks usually means investing in several alarms, but it’s also important for supervisors to filter unnecessary alerts so that employees don’t waste time or over-react to trivial issues detected by storage tank monitoring. Another important feature to consider for an RTU is that it tracks alarm history. Valuable insights often result when an individual tracks their own records manually. Speeding up analysis with automation and machine learning technology can deliver instant recommendations that might otherwise be overlooked.
Telemetric devices are used for continuous monitoring of water levels as data is sent to a central database and multiple other devices. Advantages to this automation technology are that it eliminates the potential for human error, it’s more efficient than manual monitoring and it’s useful for gauging floods, river levels, groundwater and surface water.
How IoT Monitoring Cuts Costs
IoT devices have already come a long way in a short time, mainly to meet the increasing demand businesses have to cut operational costs. Firms that do invest in IoT will certainly have a competitive edge over those resisting transformation. Cutting water waste is just the beginning of what IoT can do.
Water scarcity could be a major issue in the future because of climate change and a rapidly growing global population. If such a disaster happens, water costs will skyrocket. So all industries need to prepare for future supply chain shortages that could drive up various material costs. Fiscal efficiency already has been a major key to businesses lasting through the pandemic.
Smart technology is particularly essential for water utility companies, which in the past discovered costly water leaks too late to prevent financial loss. These days real-time data tells water utility officials immediately when and where a pipe is leaking. The faster leaks are detected and fixed, the more the utility can protect and improve profit margins and well as customer satisfaction.
The Takeaway
By investing in reliable monitoring equipment, companies can scale back the amount of water they lose to leaks and prevent profit losses from lost products. High Tide Technologies provides comprehensive cloud-based SCADA solutions that deliver real-time data acquisition through our secure client portal. SCADA solutions provide insight into preventive equipment maintenance, pump status, fill times, flow rates, and more. Additionally, the system sends alarm notifications that signal equipment failures or high water usage so you can quickly inspect or repair the affected equipment.