In a rural area in Northern Europe, eleven pumping stations make up our customer’s water cooperative. Distances between the pumping stations are long and on-site work can be inconvenient and expensive. As part of an update, the water cooperative connected all its pumping stations to Grundfos Connect which has helped to minimize the number of unnecessary site visits, lower the labor cost and stick to normal working hours.
Modernising a rural water cooperative
When the water cooperative got in touch with Grundfos, the electrical cabinets installed at their pumping stations were more than 10 years old. In addition to being worn out, they were outdated and lacked the functionalities necessary to maintain the expected level of efficiency and reliability in a modern water cooperative. So, they reached out to Grundfos in search of a new solution with functionalities that could accommodate their need for unmanned operation, such as remote monitoring and control as well as automatic alerts and notifications.
Staying one step ahead with Grundfos Connect
Grundfos proposed to replace all electrical cabinets in the pumping stations and equip them with brand new sensors and a backup level switch. Then, the whole system was hooked up to Grundfos Connect for remote monitoring and control – and that’s where the magic really happened.
In short, Grundfos Connect is a simple and cost-efficient alternative to a SCADA solution. Through an online platform, Grundfos Connect allows you to remotely monitor and control your water infrastructure equipment from anywhere, anytime. All you need is a device with access to the internet. Automatic alerts, including alarms and warnings, enable you to act quickly and proactively when issues occur, ultimately minimizing downtime, reducing operating costs and increasing efficiency.
Site visits reduced by 66%
12 months on from the update, the water cooperative has experienced a significant reduction in the risk of overflows in their pumping stations thanks to their new ability to remotely monitor their equipment with Grundfos Connect.
Doing so has enabled them to reduce the number of miles driven for on-site inspections by 66%, bringing the total number of miles driven down from 932 miles a year to just 311. This has been a major contributor to lowering the labor cost for inspection work by 40%. Thanks to these results, the water cooperative has been able to keep service and maintenance work within normal working hours.
Not only that, with data from Grundfos Connect, the water cooperative can identify necessary changes in the individual pumping stations to prevent future problems. Information that it now uses to take a more proactive approach to future inspections and maintenance.
The story in Numbers
Site visits reduced by 66%
From 932 miles a year to 311
Labor costs lowered by 40%
Not only that, with data from Grundfos Connect, the water cooperative can identify necessary changes in the individual pumping stations to prevent future problems. Information that it now uses to take a more proactive approach to future inspections and maintenance.
Take the next step towards smarter water management
Grundfos Connect is changing the game for private water companies, making it easier for you to spend your working hours where they matter most. Grundfos Connect is not just your remote monitoring solution, it’s your opportunity to act before it’s too late and reduce the number unnecessary on-site visits – just like this water cooperative successfully managed to do.