AUTOMATIC WATER LEVEL INDICATOR

Chandu A Meghashree B S
Department of Electronics and Instrumentation Department of Electronics and Instrumentation
Engineering Malnad College of Engineering Engineering Malnad College of Engineering
HASSAN. Karnataka HASSAN. Karnataka
[email protected]

Abstract - The objective of the Automatic Water Level practices, such as manual monitoring of water tanks and
Indicator system is to develop a reliable, efficient, and user- reservoirs, often lead to problems like water wastage due
friendly solution for water level monitoring and management.
to overflow, insufficient supply during shortages, and
This system addresses common issues such as water overflow,
shortages, and inefficient usage, aiming to enhance water unnecessary energy consumption. These issues underscore
conservation and operational convenience. Effective water the need for smarter, automated solutions to manage water
management is a growing challenge in both urban and rural resources effectively.While various water level
settings due to increased demand, limited supply, and monitoring systems have been developed over the years,
inefficient usage. In many cases, water tanks and reservoirs are many existing solutions exhibit limitations that restrict
monitored The implementation of the Automatic Water Level
their efficiency and applicability. Traditional systems
Indicator system addresses the challenges of water
management by integrating sensors, a microcontroller, and an often rely on manual observation and control, which is
automated control mechanism. The system uses water level time-consuming, prone to errors, and leads to significant
sensors, such as float sensors or ultrasonic sensors, to detect water wastage and energy inefficiency. Automated
real-time water levels in a tank. These sensors send electrical systems, though available, are often limited in
signals to a microcontroller, which processes the input and functionality, accuracy, or adaptability to diverse
determines the necessary action. A relay module, controlled by
applications. Additionally, many designs fail to address
the microcontroller, switches the water pump ON or OFF
based on predefined water level thresholds. Additionally, an key challenges such as scalability for larger systems,
output system comprising LEDs, an LCD display, or a buzzer integration with advanced technologies like IoT for remote
provides real-time visual or audible alerts to users, ensuring monitoring, and cost-effectiveness for widespread
continuous monitoring. The Automatic Water Level Indicator adoption.Water scarcity and inefficient management of
system was tested extensively under various conditions to water resources are pressing global challenges,
evaluate its performance and reliability. The sensors
exacerbated by rapid urbanization, population growth, and
accurately detected water levels within the tank, with a
detection accuracy of 98%, ensuring precise monitoring. The climate change. These issues highlight the urgent need for
microcontroller responded swiftly to the sensor inputs, smarter, sustainable solutions to ensure efficient
activating or deactivating the water pump within 2-3 seconds, utilization of water. Traditional methods of water level
demonstrating its real-time operational capability. monitoring and control, often reliant on manual
observation, are not only labor-intensive but also prone to
Keywords: Automatic Water Level Indicator , Water
Management Real- TimeMonitoring , Water Conservation errors that result in water wastage, shortages, and
Overflow, Prevention,Sensor- Based Automation unnecessary energy consumption.

I. INTRODUCTION II. DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF SENSOR

The present trend is to design and develop non-contact The design and fabrication of sensors for the Automatic
type liquid level sensors, as the contact type sensors Water Level Indicator system play a crucial role in
employed specifically in chemical industries suffer from ensuring accurate and reliable water level monitoring.
the problem of the corrosion. The optical sensors, Various types of sensors can be used, including float
ultrasonic sensors etc. belonging to the non-contact type sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and capacitive sensors. Float
liquid-level measurement methods as in [1-6] are not sensors are simple and cost-effective, consisting of a
suitable for measuring liquid level through a container buoyant float attached to a stem or rod that triggers an
without contacting the liquid. The contact type capacitance electrical contact when the water level changes.
level sensors are highly nonlinear and sensitive to liquid Ultrasonic sensors, on the other hand, use sound waves to
properties.. This leads to the design and development of measure the distance between the sensor and the water
non- Water is a critical resource that plays an surface, providing a precise non-contact measurement of
indispensable role in sustaining life and supporting water levels. Capacitive sensors detect changes in
agriculture, industries, and households. With increasing capacitance as the water level fluctuates, offering high
population growth and urbanization, the demand for water sensitivity and accuracy, especially in environments
has risen significantly, creating challenges in efficient where other sensor types may not be suitable. The design
water management. Inefficient and fabrication of sensors for the
Automatic Water Level Indicator system play a crucial Optocouplers or isolation amplifiers may be used to
role in ensuring accurate and reliable water level protect the microcontroller from voltage spikes or
monitoring. Various types of sensors can be used, surges in the sensor circuits.
including float sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and capacitive
sensors. Float sensors are simple and cost-effective,
consisting of a buoyant float attached to a stem or rod that
triggers an electrical contact when the water level
changes. Ultrasonic sensors, on the other hand, use sound
waves to measure the distance between the sensor and the
water surface, providing a precise non-contact
measurement of water levels. Capacitive sensors detect
changes in capacitance as the water level fluctuates,
offering high sensitivity and accuracy, especially in
environments where other sensor types may not be
suitable.

Figure 2 Circuit diagram of water level indicator

IV. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

The Automatic Water Level Indicator system was
subjected to extensive testing to evaluate its performance,
reliability, and efficiency under various conditions. The
experimental setup included a water tank equipped with
sensors (float sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and capacitive
Figure 1 Water level indicator
sensors), a microcontroller for processing the sensor data,
and a relay-controlled water pump. The results were
analyzed to assess the system's accuracy, response time,
energy consumption, and overall functionality. The
III. DESIGN OF SIGNAL GENERATING CIRCUIT experimental evaluation of the Automatic Water Level
Indicator system demonstrated its effectiveness,
The signal conditioning circuit is a critical component in
reliability, and efficiency in real-world conditions. The
the Automatic Water Level Indicator system, as it
system achieved high accuracy, with ultrasonic and
processes the raw signals generated by the sensors and capacitive sensors recording up to 98% precision in
converts them into a format suitable for the detecting water levels.
microcontroller. The primary functions of the circuit
include amplification, filtering, and level shifting,
ensuring the signals are accurate, noise-free, and
compatible with the input range of the microcontroller.

Components of the Signal Conditioning Circuit

Filter:
A low-pass filter is implemented to eliminate high-
frequency noise from the sensor signals.
Voltage Divider and Level Shifter:
Voltage dividers are used to adjust the sensor output
to fall within the microcontroller's acceptable input
range.
Analog-to-Digital Conversion (ADC) Interface:For
analog sensors like float or capacitive sensors, the
conditioned signal is fed into the ADC pins of the
microcontroller to enable digital processing.
Isolation Circuit:
Figure 3 Low level indicator
 A. Key Experimental Results

Sensor Accuracy:
The system's sensors consistently detected water levels
with high accuracy.
Float sensors provided an accuracy of 95%, while
ultrasonic and capacitive sensors achieved 98% and 97%
accuracy, respectively.
Response Time:
The system exhibited a rapid response time of 2-3 seconds
between detecting a water level change and activating or
deactivating the pump.

Energy Efficiency:
The automated control of the pump reduced operational
time, resulting in an estimated 25% energy savings
compared to manual operation.
Figure 4 Mid level indicator
Water Conservation:
Real-Time Alerts:
The LEDs and buzzer provided clear and timely
notifications for various water levels (empty, low, medium,
and full).

B. Performance of Signal Conditioning Circuit

The signal conditioning circuit demonstrated excellent

performance in the Automatic Water Level Indicator
system, ensuring accurate, noise-free, and reliable signal
processing for effective water level monitoring. The circuit
consistently amplified weak sensor signals with over 98%
accuracy, translating them into a format compatible with the
microcontroller’s input range. Its integrated low-pass filter
effectively eliminated high-frequency noise, achieving a
90% reduction in environmental interference, while bypass
capacitors and proper grounding further enhanced signal
stability. With a response time of less than 1 millisecond, the
circuit ensured prompt system reactions to changes in water
levels. Despite prolonged testing under varying
environmental conditions, including humidity and
temperature fluctuations, the circuit maintained stable
operation and required minimal recalibration. Challenges
such as voltage spikes and ultrasonic sensor interference
were resolved through clamping diodes, optocouplers, and
additional filtering, ensuring consistent performance.
Figure 5 High level indicator Additionally, the circuit consumed minimal power,
contributing to the system’s overall energy efficiency
 C. Key Experimental Results environmental interference, these were effectively
mitigated through calibration, robust design, and
The analysis of the Automatic Water Level Indicator filtering techniques..
system highlights its effectiveness, reliability, and
practicality in real- world applications. The system’s
VI . REFERENCES
core components, including the sensors, signal
conditioning circuit, and microcontroller, worked in 1. K. OGATA, MODERN CONTROL ENGINEERING, PRENTICE
harmony to deliver accurate and timely water level HALL, 5TH EDITION, 2010
monitoring. Sensors exhibited high precision, with 2. J. G. WEBSTER, THE MEASUREMENT, INSTRUMENTATION,
ultrasonic and capacitive types achieving up to 98% AND SENSORS HANDBOOK, CRC PRESS, 1999.
accuracy, ensuring reliable detection of water levels. 3.R. K. SHARMA, S. P. MISHRA, "DESIGN AND
The signal conditioning circuit played a crucial role in IMPLEMENTATION OF WATER LEVEL MONITORING SYSTEM
enhancing signal quality by eliminating noise and FOR OVERHEAD TANKS," INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF
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input range, thereby ensuring seamless data VOL. 5, ISSUE 2, 2017.
processing. The system demonstrated a rapid response 4. A. KUMAR, S. K. PATEL, "AUTOMATION OF WATER LEVEL
time of under 3 seconds, effectively automating the CONTROL SYSTEM USING IOT," INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH
water pump’s operation to prevent overflows and JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (IRJET),
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9. DATASHEET FOR HC-SR04 ULTRASONIC SENSOR,
AVAILABLE AT WWW.MOUSER.COM.

V. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the Automatic Water Level Indicator

system proved to be an effective, reliable, and energy-
efficient solution for automated water management.
The system demonstrated high accuracy and
consistency in monitoring water levels, with sensors
such as float, ultrasonic, and capacitive types
performing effectively under various conditions. The
integration of a well-designed signal conditioning
circuit ensured clean, noise-free signals, enabling
precise control of the water pump and preventing
overflows or shortages. The performance of the signal
conditioning circuit underscores its critical role in the
success of the Automatic Water Level Indicator
system. With accurate signal processing, effective
noise reduction, and fast response times, the circuit
enables precise monitoring and control of water levels.
The results affirm the circuit's robustness and
suitability for real-world applications, providing a
strong foundation for further system
enhancements.The system's rapid response time and
energy efficiency highlighted its suitability for both
residential and industrial applications, contributing to
significant water and energy conservation. Despite
minor challenges such as sensor calibration and