How to make your own Rainwater Tank Level Indicator

This video shows a simple visual water level indication system which can be made and installed in about 20 minutes using parts from your garage.
In this video, two 1000 litre slimline tanks from two different manufacturers are each fitted with such water level indicator.
The Western Cape region of South Africa is currently experiencing a severe drought, causing people everywhere to be installing rain water tanks. Something which is not so easy to determine, is the exact water level of a tank. Knocking the tank or feeling where it gets colder are not very reliable methods.
The principle utilises a floatation device inside the tank connected to a weight, acting as an indicator, on the outside. To prevent the weight from being blow around in the wind, it will have to be stabilised and guided along an optional scale along its path of travel. The tank’s water level can thus be determined at a glance. The timelapse shows me busy straightening a desired length of wire, which will become such a guide.
Sorry for the sound track, I suffered badly from hay fever at the time.

[@portfedh]

Very ingenious. Thanks for sharing

[@SterremanWillie]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@melinamurphy8217]

Thanks so much, I've been excitedly designing gauges in my head for the last couple of days, so grateful yours gave me the how to easily.

[@FinnJenkins]

Thank you for this. I'll be doing mine on the weekend.

[@koosburger1341]

Knew you did this video, searched for it, found it and will use this system for our tanks at Rotary Youth Camps Glencairn. Thanks for the well explained and practical information.

[@flywire0]

Even better: imgur.com/a/JHjg6

[@GaryLaaks1]

And there I was thinking of designing a arduino unit. Your method is simple, basic and very functional. Thank you for sharing this. I am going to do this.

[@SterremanWillie]

Unless you want to design a gadget that needs power, just a simple weight and float will do. Place it such that you can see it from the house, or where ever, it is visible from a fair distance. Happy building!

[@omarghamdioa7165]

Dear willie please tell us you are in a good health now. You were very helpfull for all of us.

[@SterremanWillie]

Fully recovered thanks! Glad to hear you found this useful.

[@NtsakoShilubane]

Thanks for this. very helpful video

[@gadijasalie7724]

Thank you for sharing, will try!

[@gadijasalie7724]

Worked very well, easy peasy-thank you!

[@Saffronlily]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@sjspencerbrown]

Nice one Willie, thanks

[@kennethmaclennan9382]

Any man who starts with a coil of 3.5mm fencing wire and ends up with 3.5mm round bar with nothing more than a Ball Peen hammer should be a "blue Chip" commodity on that quality alone,,,,,,,you sir are are legend !!!!!

[@jhung1010]

Great design. Love it. Thanks for sharing

[@frankyoung8221]

Thanks, I built one water level indicator on my coffee maker by using dental floss /small bottle/pull tab ,it works

[@pajerry33]

Dankie Oom Willie. Baie netjies. Ek hou van jou handboor.

[@SterremanWillie]

Dankie, ja sy batterye hoef nooit gelaai te word nie! 😀😀

[@SantiluX]

Thanks for the video Willie, simple and practical

[@MarlonVanderLinde]

Dankie Willie, dis n lekker idee! For a float, I was thinking of those polystyrene balls you get at Builders or craft shops.

[@paulstanton6580]

the float will need to be heavier than the outer weight, yet still float

[@carlosmarchena5076]

Thanks for sharing this has been really helpful

[@SterremanWillie]

Thanks for the feedback, great to hear. Happy DIY'ing!

[@carlwarnett2054]

Simple but effective. Thanks for the tutorial!

[@Bobby-lv2kr]

You are genius, thank you so much

[@AlM-sn3yr]

Simple, reliable, cheap. Perfect !

[@RogueSmithers]

Drill 2 holes, one at the top and one at the bottom. Install 1 90° elbow fittings in each hole with outlets pointing at each other. Connect the 2 elbow fittings with clear tubing and you have a visual level indicator used in many different styles of tanks including fuel storage

[@SterremanWillie]

The only problem with this idea is that algae then grows in the pipe, being e exposed to light, which is not the case with fuel.

[@ray_c_yuen]

I would be worried the clear tubing would eventually crack or fail and all your water will leak out. I have a chair near my tank, so I just lift the mesh leaf catcher/cover and peek in. Otherwise a tap on the side of my colorbond tank makes less sound when full.

[@giselleburningham3204]

Brilliant.. I was looking for a easy solution.. thank you

[@marniedreyer-shaik4894]

Great idea. Thanks for sharing

[@jankotze1959]

Great video Willie, I will definitely make use of this video, reason is we are moving to the Cape in January, I accepted a job between Hermanus and Gordon's bay, I guess with the shortage of water I will need that. EDIT. It is actually a transfer of the same company I work for

[@SterremanWillie]

Wonderlik! Ons moet dan bymekaar uitkom! Sterkte met die trek. Wat van die trekker(s), kon hy saam?

[@jankotze1959]

Ja my Farmall kom saam, ek los hom vir geen geld nie, ons moet defnitief bymekaar kom, dit sal lekker wees, jy sal my eerste see video's sien dan weet jy ons is daar. Groete

[@lleonardylie5856]

Willie Koorts 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦😃👨‍👩‍👧‍👦👨‍👩‍👦‍👦👩‍🏭ss

[@briandavid5668]

thanks for the video wire down the outside good idea my tank is elevated and exposed to high winds.my problem was trying to work out counter weight for float i will use a glass bottle/jar and stainless nuts.guess i'll just experiment.

[@danssv8]

Dankie ballas

[@biggils8894]

Knock knock who’s there? Water level!

[@SterremanWillie]

... others (try to) feel for the temperature change, but everybody are equally uncertain, while I check the water level from inside the house.

[@VIJAYKUMARSHAKYAWAR]

Thanks, it's works.

[@bozo7452]

Very simple Willie. I do one for my water tank. I will try not to use the metal post. :)

[@justinventer6820]

I just have a short clear hose attached to the faucet at the bottom, turn it on and hold the pipe against the tank, you can see the water level in the pipe.

[@SterremanWillie]

Indeed! Only problem with those is algae growth in a clear pipe due to sunlight

[@wayne7058]

Best place to put water guage

[@AClarke2007]

Or a magnetic float inside and magnetized, slider on the outside?

[@kudobaban]

creative, nice idea, but i guess it would be beautiful if you replace the can-inserted rock with baloon-inserted half of water.

[@paulstanton6580]

balloons perish

[@frankyoung8221]

WOW! It's Double Wall Tanks structure . amazing! Why?!!!

[@thegreenviking1422]

Baie oulike plan hierdie Willie. gaan dieselfde doen met my tenks. Ons moet spaar waar ons kan aan die water. mag dalk dieselfde doen aan die put wat ek besig is om te grou. Dankie dat jy jou planne met ons deel. Lekker dag. Subbed and liked. :)

[@MohdRadhwan]

Ahh...so this is an inverted water level indicator.

[@salimmullani5840]

Which string is used

[@SterremanWillie]

Nylon fishing line

[@samuelmalsawmsanga6090]

Great Bur I wonder why ?? There are about 17k viewers but only about 118 likers Why?

[@SterremanWillie]

Thanks Samuel. Yes, people are quick to complain but never as fast to praise.

[@samuelmalsawmsanga6090]

@@SterremanWillie keep up

[@RyanGr33n]

What good does it do to install a rain water tank during a drought? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@SterremanWillie]

In one year, Capetonians effectively built a dam, collecting every possible drop of what little rain we still got!