A Smart Work Tool on a Remote Outback Cattle Station
Eliza Pearson manages 67 bores on an outback station spanning nearly one million acres (400,000ha).
Kalala Station is located 10 kilometres from Daly Waters and 280 kilometres south of Katherine in the Northern Territory, divided by the Stuart Highway.
The property consists of a mix of country, including areas with highly productive black soil, and is home to a herd of over 13,000 Brahman breeders.
Eliza is in charge of managing the station's water, ensuring that bores work properly and that cattle have constant access to fresh water.
A bore runner works full-time at a station of this size. It entails driving vast distances across the station, inspecting troughs, tanks, and turkey nests, and repairing anything that is broken.
Eliza must keep an eye on the fences, roads, and, most importantly, the cattle. She serves as both the station's eyes and ears.
Conditions can also be difficult in this part of the Northern Territory. The wet season brings high humidity and extreme temperatures, which frequently exceed 40 degrees. However, it is the dramatic monsoonal weather that poses the greatest challenge, with Kalala station receiving approximately 960 mm of rain. This means that parts of the property may be cut off for several days.
Eliza believes that working smarter and getting ahead of problems is critical. That is why she installed a Grundfos Solar Connect Pump Monitor, which allows her to remotely monitor and manage the bore and water levels from her mobile phone.
“On the app, I can see what the voltage is doing, that is the voltage peak for the day. 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”.
“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”.
“Especially when it’s really hot, the sooner you know if there’s any kind of drama with the bore, the better”.
The ability to manage boredom remotely and better organise time spent travelling has a significant advantage.
She can now see how much water the bore has pumped that day thanks to a satellite pump monitoring system, which sends and receives data without the use of cellular networks.
A consistent water supply is essential for a property of this size and for the health of the cattle. Tank levels and the pump's status are updated on a regular basis.
She says it’s this level of detail which makes the kit so effective and her life a lot easier.
Kalala station has had a positive experience with Grundfos pump products.
Eliza says Grundfos pumps work well on this outback property, and she intends to install more Grundfos Solar Pumps with Solar Connect monitors, which will not only reduce her workload but also make her job as a full-time bore runner more efficient.
Eliza received hands-on training in Katherine to help station staff understand the benefits of Grundfos products. She claims that the ongoing guidance and support she received from Grundfos employees and local representatives gave her an advantage in understanding and utilising the Solar Connect's benefits.
Beyond operational benefits, Eliza recognises the positive environmental impact of Grundfos Solar Pumping technologies, particularly when combined with Grundfos Solar Connect. Using solar energy and remote monitoring improves operational efficiency while also significantly lowering CO2 emissions. This reflects her satisfaction with working for a forward-thinking company like Grundfos, which is committed to positive environmental solutions.
About Solar Connect
Grundfos Solar Connect, which was made available in 2023, uses low Earth orbit satellite technology supplied by Australian IoT firm Myriota to provide remote monitoring systems for comprehensive coverage of water infrastructure, including 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 (Volts and Wattage). The Solar Connect Pump Module connects seamlessly to the CIU 903 SQ Flex controller.
When paired with the Grundfos Solar Connect app, this plug-and-play solution provides near-real-time monitoring of SQ Flex pump operations, including pump status, estimated flow, temperature, and solar array performance (voltage and wattage). The Solar Connect Pump Module integrates seamlessly with the CIU 903 SQ Flex controller.
The Solar Connect solution also includes tank modules that monitor tank levels and volume, as well as a 5-meter ceramic tip hydrostatic sensor designed for harsh environments. Grundfos Solar Connect, which can be purchased as part of a complete Solar Pumping system or retrofitted into existing installations, sets a new standard in water infrastructure management by providing full-system monitoring (pump and tank) as well as precision and efficiency in monitoring and control.
Grundfos' Solar Connect Pump Monitor is changing the game at Kalala Station in the Northern Territory. This comprehensive monitoring system, powered by satellite technology, remotely monitors water bores, making life easier for bore runners and station managers.
(Source: Beef Central )