Remote tank and pump monitoring for rural properties
Know your tank is low or your pump has stopped before it becomes a problem, from anywhere.
On a rural property, water problems are rarely obvious until they're expensive. A tank runs dry and the house goes without. A trough empties on a hot day. A pump runs flat out against a burst pipe for a week, and you only find out when the power bill arrives.
I spent more than 20 years around pools, pumps and leak detection before I moved into building monitoring systems, and the pattern is always the same: by the time you notice, the damage is done. Remote monitoring fixes that by sending an alert to your phone the moment something changes.
This guide covers what you can monitor, the sensors and connections that work in the bush, and how to approach the cost. It's written with the Scenic Rim and Gold Coast hinterland in mind, where mobile coverage can change a lot from one paddock to the next.
What you can monitor
- Water tank levels: how full each tank is, and how fast it's dropping
- Troughs and dams: low-level alerts before stock run short
- Pumps: whether a pump is running, how long it's been running, and whether it's drawing the right amount of power
- Pressure: drops that point to a burst pipe or failed pump
- Power: whether mains or solar power has dropped out at a remote site
- Temperature: cool rooms, sheds, freezers or equipment cabinets
A pump that runs far longer than usual is often the first sign of a leak. Tracking run time is one of the cheapest and most useful things you can add.
Sensor types
| Sensor | What it does | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrasonic level sensor | Mounted at the top of a tank, it measures the distance down to the water | Tanks with a clear opening and no foam or heavy condensation |
| Submersible pressure sensor | Sits at the bottom of the tank and measures water depth by pressure | Accurate levels in most tanks, dams and bores |
| Float switch | A simple on/off trigger at a set level | Cheap low or high level alarms, troughs |
| Current sensor | Clips around a pump's power cable and detects when it's running | Pump run time, fault and dry-run detection |
| Pressure transducer | Measures pressure in a pipe | Burst pipe and pump failure alerts |
Any sensor wiring inside a mains-powered pump control box needs a licensed electrician. A current sensor that clips around a cable is often the easiest option, but it still needs to be fitted safely.
Getting the data back to you
This is the part that makes or breaks a rural system. The right choice depends on how far the sensor is from the house and what coverage you have.
| Connection | Range | Running cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Short, usually near the house or shed | None beyond your internet | Tanks close to the house |
| 4G, including low-power Cat-M1 and NB-IoT | Anywhere with mobile coverage | A SIM and data plan per device | Remote sites with reliable mobile signal |
| LoRaWAN | Long range, often several kilometres line of sight | Low, once a gateway is installed | Several sensors spread across a property |
| Satellite | Almost anywhere | Higher per message | Sites with no mobile coverage at all |
One important note: Australia's 3G networks have been shut down. If you come across older second-hand monitoring gear, check it doesn't rely on 3G, because it won't connect.
For properties with several tanks and troughs spread out, LoRaWAN is often the sweet spot. One gateway near the house, connected to your internet, can pick up many low-power sensors across the property, and each sensor can run for a long time on a small battery.
Power in the paddock
Most remote sensors don't have mains power nearby. The usual options are:
- Battery only: works well for low-power sensors that send a reading every so often, especially on LoRaWAN
- Solar and battery: a small panel keeps the battery topped up, which suits 4G devices that use more power
- Mains: available at pump sheds and houses, and the simplest when it's there
How often the sensor reports makes a big difference to battery life. A tank level every 15 minutes is plenty for most properties, and much easier on power than a reading every few seconds.
Alerts that are actually useful
The goal isn't more data, it's the right alert at the right time. A good system lets you set rules like:
- tank below 25%: send a text
- trough low for more than an hour: call me
- pump running more than 3 hours straight: possible leak
- no reading from a sensor for 6 hours: check the device
That last alert matters. A sensor that's quietly stopped working is worse than none at all, because you'll assume everything's fine.
Off-the-shelf or custom?
There are good off-the-shelf tank monitors on the market, and for a single tank near the house they're often the right choice. Custom starts to make sense when:
- you want tanks, pumps, troughs and power in one app instead of three
- you need alerts built around how your property actually runs
- the property has awkward coverage that needs a mix of connections
- you're a business that wants to offer monitoring to your own customers under your brand
On a recent pool and spa controller, a big part of the value was letting one technician see and manage many sites from a single dashboard. The same idea works for rural monitoring: one screen showing every tank and pump, with history and alerts.
What it costs
My sensor monitoring and phone alert builds run from $880 to $2,750 including GST, plus parts. Where a job falls in that range depends on:
- how many sensors and sites there are
- which connection is needed (Wi-Fi is cheapest, satellite costs the most)
- whether you need solar power at remote sites
- how custom the app and alerts need to be
Don't forget the running costs: SIM plans for 4G devices, satellite messages if you use them, and battery replacements down the track.
Before you get a quote
- List each tank, trough, pump and site you want to watch
- Note the distance from each one to the house
- Check mobile signal at each site on your phone
- Note whether there's power at each site
- Write down the alerts you'd actually want to receive
Common questions
How can I monitor my water tank level remotely?
Fit a level sensor, such as a submersible pressure sensor or an ultrasonic sensor, and connect it to your phone over Wi-Fi, 4G, LoRaWAN or satellite depending on how far the tank is and what coverage you have. The system then shows the level in an app and sends alerts when it drops.
What is the best connection for farm sensors with poor mobile coverage?
LoRaWAN is often the best choice, because one gateway near the house can pick up sensors several kilometres away. For sites with no coverage at all, satellite is the fallback.
Will old 3G tank monitors still work in Australia?
No. Australia's 3G networks have been shut down, so devices that rely on 3G won't connect. Look for 4G, Cat-M1, NB-IoT, LoRaWAN or satellite equipment instead.
How much does remote tank monitoring cost?
My sensor monitoring and phone alert builds run from $880 to $2,750 including GST, plus parts, depending on the number of sensors, the connection type and how custom the app needs to be. Off-the-shelf monitors can be cheaper for a single tank near the house.
Can remote monitoring detect a leak?
Yes, indirectly. Tracking pump run time, pressure drops and how fast a tank empties can flag a leak long before you'd notice it yourself.
Want eyes on your tanks and pumps?
I'm Luke, and I run Wayward Vector on Tamborine Mountain, building monitoring systems for properties across the Scenic Rim, Gold Coast hinterland and South East Queensland. Sensor monitoring and phone alerts start from $880 including GST, plus parts.
Tell me about your property