Monitoring and Control of Water Level at the Fish Farm

The Villitaimen Osuuskunta fish farm in Kemijärvi (Lapland) breeds several types of fish and sells them at hydroelectric power plants. All the water supply to the fish farm is gravity-fed (due to hydrostatic pressure), as the farm does not use any water pumps. The water flow is manually regulated, while the water level and temperature are controlled by the KELLER RAA-36XW level transmitter. The GSM2* module installed at the lid of the inspection well sends measurement data to a mobile phone via SMS notifications about the water level and temperature.

Water flow control scheme from the river to the farm and back

Remote monitoring of the fish tank filling level

The Villitaimen Osuuskunta fish farm raises trout, grayling, and several types of whitefish hatched from eggs. Fish grow on the farm for two to four years and are only then sold to hydroelectric power plants. The turbines used at hydroelectric plants impair fish migration in the river system. Thus, hydroelectric plants buy fish to release them into the river to replenish river stocks.

Water supply occurs through hydrostatic pressure. The farm does not use water pumps, mainly for safety reasons. Thus, the farm is not dependent on electricity supply, and the fish are provided with fresh water regardless of possible power outages. The water flow/level in the well is manually regulated by a sluice gate submerged in the river. After water freely flows through several aquariums, it passes through biological treatment facilities back into the river.

The amount of water that can be withdrawn from the river is regulated by law. This fact is very important for fish farm owners. The warmer the water, the less oxygen can be dissolved in it, and the greater the amount of water that must be diverted from the river for the fish to survive. The survival of the farm and its four employees directly depends on fish stocks.

Aquariums for farmed fish

The level transmitter guarantees the farm’s survival

The Keller RAA-36XW level transmitter combined with the GSM2* module, installed in the inspection well, measures water level and temperature. The GSM2* is responsible for sending data about the tank filling level to a computer in the farm’s main building once a day. Additionally, information about water flow and dissolved oxygen content is sent – and the dam sluice gate can be manually adjusted.

Sometimes the well can become clogged with various objects from the river, causing the water level to drop. In this case, the GSM2* module sends an alarm signal (SMS, FTP, or Email message) to an employee’s mobile phone.

As long as the farm depends on hydrostatic pressure, the level sensor is the ideal solution to guarantee its existence and ensure its operation runs as smoothly as possible.

* The GSM2 remote data transmission unit has been upgraded and replaced by the new product ARC1.

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