How to control many water tanks lying at same level/roof ?
Updated: Jun 30
Many a time water is being pumped up to many overhead water tanks, which are lying at same level (on same roof most of times), call it All-in-1 level water storage. But as water tank outlets (supplying water to building) are separate and supplying water to different sections of building, the water level in each tank is different. Different water level in water tanks is an issue which need to resolved to control all water tanks with one water level alarm or automation. So lets first have a look at what different all-in-1 water storage systems may look like. Please note we have taken only two tanks but there can be more than two at site, but solution suggested remains the same.
Initial State - A, have two water tanks with separate water delivery pipe coming from common water pump. To control water delivery of each water tank a gate valve is provided just after water pump. These manually operated gate valves are a bottleneck in controlling both water tank with a single water level alarm and automation. So solution needed must make these gate valves redundant, in addition to resolving issue of different water level in tanks.
Initial State - B, has a set of water tanks, with common delivery pipe line coming up to water tanks from a common pump. To control water overflow ball cock (float ball) is installed in each water tank. Please note, when a water pump is being used to pump water to water tanks, using ball cocks at all water tank inlets is sure way of inviting bigger trouble. This may burn water pump. Proper solution will require these float valves to be removed in addition to addressing different water level in tanks.
The Solution to different water levels in water tanks is very simple. The solution lies in inter-connecting the water outlets of both tank (or many tanks). Water tank joined at outlet behave as one water tank only as water level in both the water tanks will be same at all times. What ever water level difference is created by inflow or outflow, is leveled by flow of water through inter-connected outlets. Now for all practical puposes we have only one water tank. Water sensors of water tank alarm or water level control can be installed in any one of water tanks.
Gate valves or ball cocks also pose no big challenge. Gate valves need to be just kept open at all the times (no need to operate). Ball cocks can be removed from all water tanks or from the water tank in which water sensors are to installed. For pump safety we have to make sure that at least one tank inlet has no ball cock fitted to it.
With above solutions put in place, above initial states will be as described below.
Readiness State-A is with respect to Initial State-A. As the outlets are joined as indicated, the gate valves become are not needed to be operated and kept in open position.
Readiness State-B is with respect to Initial State-B. The ball cocks (float valve) had been removed as they will no longer be needed on installing water level alarm or automation.
Automation State is with respect to both readiness states as above. Water sensors are installed in any one of the water tanks and connected to water level alarm or automation panel.
A water level alarm installed in any one of water tanks will alert users to do needful. SensaSwitch offers overflow alarms as well low water level alarm. User can use both of alarms in one water tank to alert on full water tank level or empty level.
SensaSwitch also offers two type of water pump automations. SensaSwitch Overflow Auto Stopper will automatically stop water pump when water tanks reach full level, motor start remains manual. For sites with high water consumption or repeated filling need SensaSwitch Auto Overhead Level Control is better option, as it keeps waters tanks filled above low (start level water sensor). This ensures 24x7 water with minimum of hue and cry & hassle.
For any more insights please contact us, we shall suggest what best can be done. Remember our advice is free.