Grundfos solar pump remote monitoring delivers for outback cattle farm

Bore runner, Eliza Pearson, is tasked with managing water supply on Kalala Station, an outback cattle farm situated 280kms south of Katherine in the Northern Territory.

The property spans almost one million acres and has 67 bores, keeping Eliza’s hands full ensuring constant water supply across the entire operation.

Being a bore runner usually involves driving huge distances across the station, checking trough and tanks, and fixing anything that’s broken. In addition to managing water supply on the farm, Eliza’s job also involves keeping an eye on fences, roads and most importantly, the cattle.

Weather conditions in the NT can also be challenging especially in monsoon seasons when the property may receive 960mm of rain, potentially shutting off access to parts of the property for days.

Eliza said the Grundfos Solar Connect Pump Monitor she installed to work hand in hand with Grundfos Solar Pumps on the property is a game changer.

The technology incorporates low earth orbit satellite technology supplied by Australian Internet of Things (IoT) firm, Myriota, to deliver remote monitoring systems for comprehensive coverage of water infrastructure, encompassing both pumps and tanks.

The system offers near real-time oversight of pump operations via a mobile app, providing data on pump status, estimated flow, temperature, and solar array performance.

Using the technology, Eliza was able to remotely monitor and manage the bore and water levels via her mobile phone.

“I obviously can’t 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. If you have a leaking trough, the Solar Connect app will identify that the tank levels are dropping and you need to head out there, sooner rather than later,” she said.

“Especially when it’s really hot, the sooner you know if there’s any kind of drama with the bore, the better.”

Being able to manage the bores remotely and better organise the time travelling was a huge plus, Eliza said. She can now see how much water the bore has been pumping on any given day as well as regular updates on tank levels and pump status. She says it’s this level of detail which makes the kit so effective and her life a lot easier.

“On the app, I can see what the voltage is doing, that is the voltage peak for the day," she said.

"I can see the volume of water pumped and then I can see the temperature of the pump down the hole. If the water level in the borehole drops, it’ll send you a notification saying that the pump has a dry run, so you know there’s an issue straight away."

Eliza said Grundfos' pumps work well on the outback property, and she plans to install more Grundfos Solar Pumps with Solar Connect monitors which will not only lighten her workload, but will make her job as a full time bore runner much more efficient.

Beyond operational benefits, it is the positive environmental impact of Grundfos Solar Pumping technologies that stood out for Eliza.

“Utilising solar energy and remote monitoring not only enhances operational efficiency but also significantly reduces CO2 emissions. This aligns with my satisfaction in working with a forward-thinking company like Grundfos, committed to positive environmental solutions.”

For more information on Grundfos' Solar Connect system, visit Grundfos' website.