IN THE FIELD
broken, which is much more than managing the water supply and the condition of the watering points. Pearson must also keep an eye on the fences, roads and the cattle. Conditions can also be challenging in this part of the Northern Territory. The wet season brings with it high humidity and extreme temperatures, often above 40°. But the monsoonal weather also delivers the challenge with Kalala Station receiving around 960mm of rain, where parts of property can be cut off for days. THE SOLUTION Pearson has installed a Grundfos Solar Connect Pump Monitor, enabling her to remotely monitor and manage the bore and water levels using her mobile phone. She said, “I cannot get to every bore on the property every day. There are huge distances to travel to check all the bores, so having this app makes it easier.” Pearson added that if there is a leaking trough, the solar connect app will identify that the tank levels are dropping and alert one to head out there. Being able to manage the bores remotely and better organise the time travelling has a huge upside for her. She can now see how much water the bore has been pumping that day due to a satellite pump monitoring system which sends and receives information without the need for cellular networks. A reliable water supply is crucial for a property this size and for the health of the cattle. Regular updates show tank levels, as well as the status of the pump. Pearson said that this level of detail makes the kit so effective and her life a lot easier. GRUNDFOS SOLAR CONNECT APP Introduced in 2023, Grundfos Solar Connect incorporates low earth orbit satellite technology supplied by the Australian Internet of Things (IoT) firm Myriota, delivering
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1 The property runs a herd of more than
remote monitoring systems for coverage of water infrastructure, encompassing both pumps and tanks. When used with the Grundfos Solar Connect app, this plug-and-play solution offers near real-time oversight of SQ Flex pump operations, providing data on pump status, estimated flow, temperature, and solar array performance. The Solar Connect Pump Module connects seamlessly to the CIU 903 SQ Flex controller. Additionally, the Solar Connect solution includes tank modules for monitoring tank levels and volume, featuring a 5m ceramic tip hydrostatic sensor designed for harsh environments. Available for purchase as part of a complete Solar Pumping system or for retrofitting existing installations, Grundfos Solar Connect provides full-system monitoring for both pump and tank and ensures precision and efficiency in monitoring and control.
THE OUTCOME Pearson also added that Grundfos pumps work well on this outback property, and she plans to install more Grundfos Solar Pumps with Solar Connect monitors which will not only lighten her workload, but also make her job as a full time bore runner much more efficient. To help the station staff understand the benefits of the Grundfos products, Pearson was given hands-on help when she participated in a training session in Katherine. She added that the ongoing guidance and support from Grundfos staff and local representatives gave her a head start in utilising the benefits of the Solar Connect. Beyond operational benefits, Pearson values the positive environmental impact of Grundfos Solar Pumping technologies, especially when paired with Grundfos Solar Connect. Utilising solar energy and remote monitoring enhances operational efficiency as well as reduces CO2 emissions.
13,000 brahman breeders and is
a mix of large areas of black soil 2 Kalala Station is situated approximately
10km north west of Daly Waters and 590km south of the nearest capital city, Darwin
3 Grundfos Solar Connect 4 The Grundfos Solar Connect app
Images: Grundfos
Water & Wastewater Asia | September-October 2024 37
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