Water tank level sensor – Farmbot Monitoring Solutions
A water level sensor providing farmers with an accurate snapshot of their tank water remotely.
Benefits
The Farmbot water tank level sensor reduces the number of water runs required by staff, which lowers farm labour and driving costs.
Stock without water often go undetected for days which can cause fatalities, while water leaks can go undetected for weeks or longer. Through the MyFarmbot platform, pump health and water leaks are identified early to reduce these risks.
How it works
The Farmbot water monitor uses a hydrostatic sensor that sits on the bottom of a tank or dam. It measures levels by sensing the pressure of the water above.
Users can check their tank water levels online via phone, tablet, or computer. Text message or email alerts are sent when:
- maximum or minimum water levels are reached
- there is an excessive rate of fall.
Multiple users can access the platform and adjust alert settings. It caters for any business, from small farms to large operations with multiple properties.
MyFarmbot dashboard information showing water level dropping
Installation and power
The tank level sensor can be installed by the user, with no technical skills required.
Power is supplied by a solar panel with a large battery, capable of running for more than a week with no direct sunlight.
Connectivity requirements
The tank level sensor plugs into a Farmbot monitor which transmits the data.
It is compatible with satellite connection, 3G and 4G, or LTE networks.
Pricing model
Hardware and annual subscription costs for data and service.
Producer case study
Producer case study
Craig Brewin manages Maranoa Downs at Stewart Range, where he runs 1,500 angus cows and their calves. He also leases property at Rendlesham, 100km south-west of Maranoa Downs.
Craig installed 4 Farmbot monitors across both properties. He has found notable benefits at the Rendlesham property, where one of Craig's staff previously travelled to check on waters every second day in summer – a round trip of 200km.
Once the Farmbot monitors were installed in January 2020, he reduced the trips to check stock water. Craig is confident the Farmbot monitors have more than paid for themselves by reducing labour and motor vehicle costs.
In January 2021, he was alerted to an excessive fall in his tank water at Rendlesham and discovered a burst pipe upon inspection. As they had just returned from the property that day, without the phone alert, his stock would have been without water for at least 2 days during summer.
Craig has also become aware of pump issues through Farmbot that he otherwise would not have known about. He can minimise pump usage by watching and understanding the tank levels, which:
- extends the life of the pump
- saves on electricity costs.
Craig's advice to other producers looking to install water level monitors is to shop around and understand which device is most suitable. He said the Farmbot monitor was easy to install, and he has been pleased with the customer service and after-sale support.
Craig has also been using AgriWebb since 2018, making communication between him and his staff much clearer. The Farmbot water level sensor can integrate within AgriWebb.
Return on investment (ROI) estimate
Return on investment (ROI) estimate
The below table demonstrates costs of using the Farmbot technology over 3 years, compared to no water monitoring.
Estimated ROI is based on manually checking tanks and troughs at our Kybybolite property, which is not as regularly patrolled as the Struan farm. Considering the 37km distance between the farms, water runs are reduced by 50% using the Farmbot sensors.
If your property relies on reticulated water, these costs will be considerably higher.
| Costs | Manual water checks | 1st year using Farmbot | 2nd year using Farmbot | 3rd year using Farmbot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Purchase price + ongoing data costs1 | - |
$1,632 ($1,290 hardware + $342 cellular data subscription) | $342 | $342 |
| Labour cost2 | $4,387.50 | $2,193.75 | $2,193.75 | $2,193.75 |
| Motor vehicle cost3 | $3,090.24 | $1,545.12 | $1,545.12 | $1,545.12 |
| Total costs | $7,477.74 | $5,370.87 | $4,080.87 | $4,080.87 |
| Savings4 | - | $2,106.87 | $5,503.74 | $8,900.61 |
| Return on investment5 | - |
129% of costs recovered |
279% of costs recovered |
384% of costs recovered |
- Prices current as of February 2022.
- Estimated labour cost of $50 per hour to check waters.
- Motor vehicle costs estimated at $0.72 per km.
- Savings calculations estimated from a 50% reduction in labour and vehicle costs each year from reduced water checks.
- ROI calculations assume no water issues have been detected in 3 years.
Monitoring devices do not eliminate the need to inspect tanks and troughs, but they can be checked less frequently. The investment costs will therefore be recovered in the first year of installation, even if no water issues are detected.
If a significant water loss event went undetected for a few days, livestock weight loss and death would cause production losses. This possibility improves the ROI for the water sensor.
See it in action
To view the Farmbot water tank level sensor, contact the AgTech Extension Officer at:
- Kangaroo Island demonstration farms
- Minnipa demonstration farm
- Struan and Kybybolite demonstration farm.
Struan AgTech field day demonstration
Contact vendor
Farmbot
Phone: (02) 9030 4760
Email: info@farmbot.com.au
