The benefits of a connected level sensor
for an underground tank
Safety, battery life and remote monitoring: find out why the connected sensor is the ideal solution for buried rainwater tanks.
Buried tanks present specific challenges: inaccessibility, difficulty checking the level. However, thousands of Belgian homeowners have a rainwater tank buried in their garden. How can you effectively manage your level without facing these constraints? The answer is a connected level sensor.
At tankio, we designed our sensor specifically to meet the challenges of buried tanks. Thanks to LoRa technology, it communicates through earth and concrete, operates for years without intervention, and gives you total visibility of your rainwater reserve. Here are all its advantages.
Table of contents
warning 1. The challenges of buried tanks
An underground tank poses problems that tanks installed in a cellar or outside do not have. These constraints explain why many owners neglect monitoring their buried tank, with sometimes costly consequences.
- Inaccessibility: the tank is underground, with an access hole that is often narrow and obstructed (vegetation, earth, snow).
- Risk of contamination: opening the manhole of a rainwater tank can introduce impurities or insects.
- Lack of visibility: without remote measurement, you cannot check the level without opening the access hatch, increasing the risk of running out of water and unexpectedly needing mains water.
- Inspection difficulty: a slow leak can go unnoticed for months or even years.
Faced with these challenges, the connected solution provides concrete answers, without the disadvantages of traditional methods. For a detailed comparison of measurement methods, see our article how to measure the level without opening the tank.
shield 2. Safety: no need to open the tank
The first advantage of the connected sensor is safety. With a sensor installed, you never open the cistern again. For an underground cistern, this is a considerable benefit: each opening of the manhole can introduce impurities and compromise the quality of the water.
The initial installation of the sensor is carried out once and for all, under controlled safety conditions. Then you can forget about the opening constraint. The sensor transmits data via LoRa radio through soil and concrete, without any human intervention.
For buried rainwater tanks, the issue is health. Each opening of the manhole can introduce dust, insects or rodents which contaminate the water. The connected sensor preserves the integrity of your water reserve while allowing you to monitor the level in real time. Discover our solution for rainwater tanks.
Safety is not an option: not opening an underground cistern means preserving the quality of your water and eliminating the risk of contamination.
visibility 3. Remote real-time tracking
With a connected sensor, you monitor your tank level in real time from your smartphone. Whether you're at home or on vacation, you know exactly how much rainwater you have left.
No need to lift the underground tank's inspection cover, lean over with a flashlight or use a wooden stick to probe the level. The tankio application displays the level with an accuracy of ±2 liters, consumption history and trends.
This permanent visibility radically changes the management of your water reserve. You adjust your consumption according to the actual level of the reserve, without waste, and you anticipate dry periods.
plumbing 4. Leak detection
Leaks from buried tanks are particularly insidious. Invisible from the surface, they can go unnoticed for years. A leaking rainwater tank means liters of precious water wasted.
The tankio sensor detects leaks by analysis of the level curve. Under normal conditions, the level of your tank drops regularly depending on your consumption. If the sensor detects a drop faster than expected, or a drop outside periods of use, it triggers an alert.
This early detection allows you to intervene before the leak causes significant damage or deprives you of water during periods of drought.
analytics 5. Consumption analysis
Beyond the instantaneous level, the connected sensor offers you an in-depth analysis of your consumption. You access graphs and statistics that help you understand and optimize your use.
What you learn with connected tracking
- Daily consumption: how many liters do you use per day on average?
- Seasonal profiles: how does your consumption vary between winter and summer?
- Year-on-year comparison: is your consumption increasing or decreasing?
- Impact of the work: has new equipment changed your water consumption?
- Forecast: How long can your reserve last without rain?
This data is valuable for controlling your consumption and optimizing your water supply.
Concrete example
A Belgian owner equipped with a 5000 liter buried rainwater tank installed a tankio sensor. In one year, he discovered that his summer consumption for watering was 4 times higher than his winter consumption, and that a slow leak in his distribution circuit was causing him to lose 80 liters per week. After the repair, he saved nearly 4000 liters per year.
build 6. Simple installation built to last
Installing the tankio sensor on a buried tank is simple and only requires one single intervention. Here are the steps:
- Open the inspection hatch of the tank (only once!).
- Place the pressure sensor at the bottom of the tank, via the existing opening or a dedicated connection.
- Install the LoRa transmission module in the inspection chamber, protected from the weather.
- Activate the sensor via the tankio application.
- Close the inspection hatch : you will never open it again.
The sensor is designed to withstand the most difficult conditions: permanent immersion, temperature variations, humidity. Its battery offers a battery life of 2 to 5 years depending on the transmission frequency. Over 90% of tankio users say the installation took less than 20 minutes.
If you have any questions about installation or compatibility with your tank, check out our dedicated FAQ or contact us directly.
check_circle 7. Go connected
The connected level sensor transforms your buried tank, inaccessible and restrictive, into smart equipment you can monitor from your phone. Safety, peace of mind, savings: the advantages are concrete and immediate.
tankio is the only Belgian manufacturer to offer a LoRa connected sensor specifically designed for buried tanks, with a guarantee of compatibility on Belgian networks. Made in Belgium, our sensor is the result of months of R&D and field testing.