Design and Implementation of a Remote Water Level Control and Monitoring System in Rural Community Tanks Using LoRa and SMS Technology

This paper presents the design and implementation of a low-profile remote monitoring and control system for water level management in storage tanks located in rural communities. The system was developed to ensure a reliable water supply, prevent spills, reduce electrical energy consumption, and mitigate theft and vandalism risks posed by a previously installed, highly exposed commercial system. The proposed system employs LoRa technology to transmit water level data from the storage tank to a receiver located 6 km from the water well. When the water level drops below a predefined threshold, the system transmits an activation signal through the LoRa network to start the well pump and trigger tank refilling. In addition, an SMS monitoring module enables users to remotely verify water level and pump operational status at any time. System notifications and operational data are automatically delivered via SMS to predefined phone numbers, enabling continuous supervision without requiring internet connectivity. The implementation of the proposed system thus provides an efficient and reliable solution for water resource management in rural environments, ensuring continuous water availability and preventing supply shortages. LoRa communication enables robust long-range data transmission, while SMS-based monitoring offers real-time operational awareness for end users. The system was validated through field testing in a pilot rural community, demonstrating operational robustness, improved water management efficiency, and measurable positive impacts on residents’ water service continuity. The low-profile physical design significantly reduced theft and vandalism incidents reported by the local water authority. Experimental results showed an average monthly reduction of 41.2% in electrical energy consumption while maintaining high system reliability, physical security, and real-time monitoring capability.