How we monitor and control pump stations, tanks and water networks remotely, using cellular modems or radio links, a secure connection and a central supervision system.
Pump stations and tanks are often far away, in places nobody visits every day. Telemetry gives the office a picture of the installation and raises an alert when something is wrong.
A pump fault, a power cut or a low level reaches the person in charge at once, by message or notification, before it becomes a problem in the network.
Technicians go to the site when needed, already knowing the problem. Diagnosis and adjustments can often be done from the office.
Levels, running hours and alarms are logged. They help plan maintenance and document how the installation operates.
On site, a PLC or RTU reads the sensors and controls the pumps. A modem or router sends the data over a secure link to the centre, where it appears in the SCADA and triggers the alerts.
The pump station keeps running on its own logic even if communication is lost. Telemetry adds supervision; it does not replace local control.
Where coverage is good, a cellular modem is chosen. At sites with poor coverage a radio link or another solution is considered.
PLC programming and diagnostics are done from the office over a secure link, for example with Siemens TeleService.
Pump stations and tanks are often on hills, in valleys or at isolated sites. There, cellular coverage can be unstable and a radio link can be blocked by the ground. That is why we do not choose the same solution everywhere, but check it site by site.
The signals collected are chosen per project, depending on the installation and the needs of the operator.
Continuous level measurement and high and low level indications, with an alert before the tank overflows or runs empty.
Status, fault, running hours and starts per pump, so maintenance can be planned and pumps are alternated evenly.
Network pressure and flow measurement, with a history that helps locate leaks and anomalies.
Power failure, access to the site, flooding and equipment faults, with a notification to the person responsible.
| Communication medium | When it fits | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 4G, 5G modem / router | Where cellular coverage is good | Quick to install. In difficult terrain coverage is checked and an external antenna is often needed |
| Radio link | Sites without cellular coverage, or a need for an independent network | Requires a path study and line of sight. Terrain may call for an intermediate repeater point |
| Wired connection | Where a line or fibre is available | Stable link, if the infrastructure exists |
| Remote access (e.g. TeleService) | PLC programming and diagnostics from the office | Goes over a secure link with restricted access |
The solution is chosen per project. Communication and remote-access equipment is chosen depending on the site, the coverage and the equipment already in place.
Capabilities, communication media and performance are indicative and confirmed per project. Product names (e.g. Siemens TeleService) belong to their owners. A note by KP AUTOMATION.
Tell us how many sites you have and what you want to see, and we will propose the right configuration.