Automated Pond Depth Measurement Device

Dairy farms and other concentrated livestock production facilities often produce large volumes of organic waste. Typically, this waste is held in manure storage ponds constructed by the farmer or facility to fit their specific needs. Often the waste will remain in the storage pond until the farmer pumps it out for fertilization use, at least once a year. Overflow or seepage from these ponds can result in serious environmental consequences such as nitrate and bacterial contamination of waterways and can incur fines up to $225,000. Monitoring pond depth is often done manually which is inconvenient to the farmer and leads to infrequent and inaccurate measurements. Farm owners need a device that is automated, user-friendly, easy to install, will allow the farmer to check the pond level remotely, and send alerts in cases of pond failure. Additionally, this device should allow farmers to determine manure application rates to their fields during pumping.