Reservoir monitoring and controlled pumping
Monitoring water sources and distribution networks
Municipalities that manage their own water sources or distribution networks generally need automated reservoir supply and replenishment to provide a reliable service to customers. Pumping takes place in real time, according to actual demand and available reservoir capacity.
These water supply systems involve much more than pumping and level monitoring. They may also require measurement and control of water treatment, pressure monitoring in the distribution network, and secure access to reservoir buildings and equipment. Complexity increases when wells are located away from the reservoir or when several sources supply the system. Reliable communication is therefore essential between sensors, pumps, water meters, flow meters, valves and the reservoir’s control equipment.
With ENCELADUS technology, we design and install automated instrumentation and control systems for reservoirs and water supply networks. Solutions range from dedicated level monitoring and limit alarms to comprehensive systems with data transmission and visualisation at a control centre. We undertake both new installations and upgrades to existing systems.
Technologies used
Automated instrumentation and control system
Sensors and other equipment, such as valves, pumps, electronic water meters and RFID readers, are selected and installed according to customer requirements and an on-site assessment.
A central control unit is normally installed at the reservoir. It reads connected sensors, evaluates measured values, automatically controls other equipment and, where required, sends SMS notifications about water levels and critical operating conditions.
In larger systems, sensors, equipment and control units communicate over wired or wireless connections. Available technologies, protocols and standards include GSM/GPRS/LTE, SMS, LoRa, Sigfox, Zigbee and other radio modems using frequencies suited to specific applications.
Where required, data from one or more control units and other devices, such as electronic water meters, is also transmitted to the system’s supervisory control centre.
SMS notifications provide a straightforward way to report system activity, particularly water level limits and equipment status. Control units, typically programmable logic controllers (PLCs), commonly include an integrated web server and can therefore be operated remotely over the internet.
For larger systems, ENCELADUS software provides data transmission and advanced visualisation. It is available as a hosted cloud service or for use at your own control centre.
Instrumentation and control systems can be configured at different levels of complexity. Simple installations use dedicated sensors with integrated GSM communicators to report critical conditions directly by SMS. For more complex applications, we design and install complete solutions, including a dedicated wireless communications network and control centre. Equipment can be battery-powered and recharged using photovoltaic panels.
Instrumentation and control: features and capabilities
Benefits and considerations
All components of the water supply system are monitored and controlled automatically in real time. The control system and ENCELADUS supervisory software can be extended with additional functions to meet customer requirements.