Development of a Real-Time Water Monitoring and Alert System for Sustainable Aquaculture in the Tapi River

Fish farming along the Tapi River is frequently impacted by seasonal floods and droughts, leading to substantial economic losses. This paper presents the development of a realtime water monitoring and alert system utilizing Internet of Things (IoT) technology to assist farmers in managing such risks. The system monitors water level, turbidity, and flow velocity at three key points—upstream, midstream, and downstream—using solar-powered floating units equipped with calibrated sensors. Sensor calibration was performed using standard formazin solutions and validated against manual measurements to ensure accuracy. Field deployment over five months demonstrated the system's ability to detect critical water level changes with a notification accuracy of 98.7%, providing farmers with an average of six hours for responsive actions. Observations showed that changes in upstream water levels propagated downstream within 3.5 to 4.5 hours. Additionally, turbidity increased from 30 NTU to 85 NTU (183%) during high-flow events. The system helped reduce fish cage losses by over 75%, from 20% to 5%. These findings support the system's effectiveness in enhancing flood preparedness, promoting sustainable aquaculture, and contributing to local water resource management.