Basic data collection for a small water system.

[vdonovan]

Our tiny community water system consists of a spring-fed 20,000 gallon tank that distributes to 30 homes. We want to add some instrumentation to this system so that we can monitor use and plan for the future.

We would like to collect data on in- and out-flows to the tank and the tank level. The tank is 14 feet tall and currently does not have any power to it, so wireless, battery-operated sensors would be great. There is a home a few hundred feet away that could house a receiver and data collection point.

Can you recommend products and vendors for the sensors and data collectors? Are there books or articles that I can read to educate myself on this topic?

Thanks for your help.

 

[bimr]

As a minimum, you would probably want to install meters on each house. Badger as well as others sell meters:

http://www.badgermeter.com/litmap.htm

Not really required to monitor flow into or out of the tank, but you can do that as well. A lot of operators would not bother with it. Automating the level control system is essential.

 

[bimr]

Waterworker has made a nice posting on another forum:

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=118106&page=1

 

[waterworker]

I haven't dealt with this particular company, but after skimming through their material, it's probably worthwhile to fill out their ' Advice" link at the bottom and allow them to provide you with a proposal.

http://www.pribusin.com/casestudies.html

 

[waterworker]

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https://pia.khe.siemens.com/efiles/feldg/files/kataloge/fi01_en/sitransl_overview_fi01en.pdf

https://pia.khe.siemens.com/index.asp?Nr=4916

Milltronics brand of ultra sonic level measurement devices are accurate and reliable in my experience.

If you only want to continously measure and record changing tank level 24/7 I would explore the option
of hanging an ultra sonic level indicator above the water and have it wired directly to a program logical recorder or controller. Set the Program Logical contoller
to record level at half-hourly ( or every five minute-whatever you wish ) intervals. You could either download the info into a laptop at scheduled site visits, (cheapest) or

2) expand the project to send the info using a broad spectrum radio modem to communicate to a PC (with modem) in the house .

Then gather the info ( from a remote location, e.g, your office) via ' PC Anywhere' software from the house PC
via the internet. In this situation you need a solar panel to power the Ultrasonic measuring device hanging in the tank and the Program Logical Controller. My only experience with solar panels is of the type used by farmers to pump water for cattle at dugouts and to power electric fences. They are actually quite reliable-obviously you require battery for 24/7 operation.



Another ( probably better) reliable choice is to hang the Ultrasonic measuring device, and run a phone line and power line in one trench from the house to the tank. The levels could be recorded by an inexpensive Personal Computer directly off the phone line, and you could upload the data remotely via software such as PC Anywhere. This eliminates the radio modem, and the solar panel.