Ryan milks 260 cows on his 117-hectare dairy farm near Te Aroha. Like many rural properties in the region, his farm water comes from the town supply, sourced untreated from streams in the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park.
Water is essential for stock, milk cooling, and day-to-day farm operations, making reliable water management a priority. But like many farmers, Ryan needed a practical and affordable solution rather than a complex system with more features than benefits.
The Challenge: Hidden Leaks and Water Loss
Before upgrading his system, Ryan relied on a traditional shut-off setup that stopped pumping when tank levels dropped below 50%.
While the system helped prevent the tank from running dry, it couldn't provide visibility into where water was being used. Small leaks could continue unnoticed for days, wasting thousands of litres before anyone realised there was a problem.
The risk was more than financial. Ryan also relied on water from the same tank to assist with milk cooling after morning milking. An unexpected drop in water levels could quickly create operational challenges at a critical time of day.
A Practical Solution for Farm Water Management
Having seen similar challenges on other farms, Jim Oliver, owner-operator of Piako Rural Services, recommended the Water to Grow water management solution.
In October 2025, Water to Grow installed a LoRaWAN gateway, a tank level monitor on the milking shed tank, and flow meters on the farm's two main stock-water lines.
The solution gave Ryan complete visibility of both water storage and water consumption across the farm, all accessible directly from his mobile phone.
Real-Time Insights, Real Savings
Ryan can now monitor tank levels and water usage at any time of the day or night.
One of the biggest advantages has been the ability to quickly identify unusual overnight water use - often the first sign that something isn't right.
The value of the system became clear when an elbow blew off a water trough.
"The system showed higher-than-normal water use overnight," Ryan explains. "Normally I wouldn't have noticed that, and we could easily have wasted 20,000 litres of water."
Instead of discovering the issue days later, Ryan was able to respond immediately, saving both water and money.
Confidence and Control
Since installation, Ryan says managing stock water has become significantly easier and less stressful.
"Now I know what's going on every day and every night - it's like having someone helping me find leaks," he says.
"It's not just about saving water. It's the peace of mind of knowing that if something unusual happens overnight, I'll know about it straight away."
Ross Aimer, General Manager of Water to Grow, says Ryan's farm demonstrates how simple visibility can make a meaningful difference.
"Ryan's farm is a great example of how practical technology can help farmers manage one of their most valuable resources. By combining tank monitoring with flow monitoring, farmers can identify leaks sooner, reduce water loss, and gain greater confidence in the day-to-day management of their water systems."
Today, Ryan has real-time visibility of what is happening across his water network, helping him stay ahead of problems before they become costly.
The project was delivered in partnership with Piako Rural Services and Water Supply Products, combining local expertise with smart water management technology to help Ryan reduce water loss and manage his farm's water system with greater confidence.
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