The challenge of waterworks monitoring
Notmark-Almsted Waterworks, located on Als in Sønderborg Municipality, was faced with replacing an ageing monitoring system that had been an important part of their operational reliability for years. The system had become technically obsolete and could no longer offer modern features such as real-time data, remote access or advanced alerting - and more importantly, it no longer met today's cybersecurity and documentation requirements such as the NIS2 directive.
In connection with a major modernisation of the physical plant, carried out by their regular partner PC Brøndboring A/S, the need for a new and future-proof IoT-based solution became clear. As PC Brøndboring had previously had good experiences with GSMCloud at other waterworks, they recommended the same here - a recommendation that Notmark-Almsted Waterworks quickly chose to follow.
The wish
The solution
GSMCloud delivered a complete IIoT solution that integrates monitoring, alarming and data logging into one unified system. The solution was customised precisely to the waterworks' needs and includes monitoring of key operational parameters such as water pressure, pumping (both total per day and continuous per hour), flushing water pumping, groundwater level, tank level, generator status, power supply and any water on the floor.
The system is connected via stable M2M connections that send data directly to the GSMCloud Portal, where the user can access real-time data, history and alarms. A significant advantage of the solution is that Notmark-Almsted Vandværk could set up and customise their dashboard in the portal themselves - without the need for programming or external support. This gave them not only ownership of the system, but also the freedom to customise the view to their own preferences.
Automatic alerts are sent via SMS and email for all types of operational deviations, making it possible to respond quickly and effectively - even outside normal working hours.
The result
The entire installation was completed in a single day and took less than 3 hours to install, thanks to close co-operation between the local electrician and the GSMCloud support team. Without the need for any major changes to panels or cabling, the system could be connected directly to the existing sensors and measuring points.
Familiar and reliable signal types such as 4-20 mA (analogue measurements), pulse measurements (flow/consumption) and digital inputs (on/off status) were used, making integration easy and secure. The system was commissioned immediately and has since been running stably - with high uptime and minimal maintenance.
A key result is the increased peace of mind in day-to-day operations. The solution fully complies with the requirements of the NIS2 directive and ensures that the water utility is not only in control of operations, but also of security. An important feature of GSMCloud is the monitoring of the connection itself: the system sends a message if the M2M connection fails, even during short-term disruptions. This avoids a false sense of security and ensures that any faults are never overlooked. The new solution for waterworks monitoring provides real-time data. Modern waterworks monitoring requires documentation and cybersecurity.
Technical setup
For the solution, three controllers from GSMCloud were installed, all mounted directly into existing switchboards, significantly reducing installation work and ensuring a clear physical integration. The controllers work together and cover the entire system - from drilling to pumping:
GSM Controller 8800 - with 8 I/O ports, acts as the main controller in the waterworks and handles monitoring of water pressure, pumping and electricity status, among other things.
GSM Controller 3100 - with 3 I/O ports, installed in the same switchboard and used for additional signals and functions.
GSM Controller 4400 - with 4 I/O ports, mounted in the electrical panel at the well and used for measuring groundwater level and other well-related data.
All three controllers are connected to the GSMCloud Portal and function as a single unit in the system. The solution is flexible and can be expanded with more modules if the need changes over time.
Benefits of modern waterworks monitoring
Efficient waterworks monitoring provides a full overview of operations, alarms and critical metering points in real time. With a cloud-based IoT solution, operators can react quickly to deviations, document incidents and ensure high security of supply. At the same time, the need for manual supervision is reduced, and cybersecurity and documentation requirements can be easily met.
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