MQTT is the Key—PLCs Power Potable Water Supply to Mountain Communities

The Challenge: Trustworthy Control and Timely Data

iFert’s mission is to bring safe, “sweet” water to scattered villages tucked into Chile’s highlands. To do so, they needed a control system that could:

• Run reliably in harsh environments with limited local support
• Deliver scheduled, accurate reports for decision-makers managing scarce water resources
• Offer advanced communications, so field equipment could feed real-time data back to headquarters
• Remain cost-effective and straightforward to program, deploy and maintain

Traditional SCADA/PLC setups often falter over long distances or require expensive radio links. iFert decided instead to fuse a patented SCADA system with MQTT—a lightweight messaging protocol perfectly suited for intermittent networks.
 

The Solution: PLCs + MQTT + Proprietary SCADA

After evaluating several controllers, iFert chose Unitronics’ UniStream series for its tight integration of PLC, HMI and dual-Ethernet ports. Key components of the implementation included:

1. UniStream PLCs at 35+ sites across production wells, storage tanks and distribution nodes
2. RS-485 instrumentation loops feeding flow, level and pressure data into each PLC
3. UniStream HMIs on-site—and accessible remotely—for live monitoring and manual overrides
4. Built-in MQTT clients configured via UniLogic™ to push telemetry straight to iFert’s SCADA servers
5. Integrated alarms that automatically notify technicians of threshold breaches or equipment faults

Thanks to UniLogic’s object-oriented environment, iFert’s engineers quickly set up PID loops, alarm schedules and MQTT topics—then packaged the entire control strategy in a repeatable template for future rollouts.

In the Field: Central Chile’s Dry Mountain Network

One flagship installation in the arid foothills north of Santiago now manages water from 20 production points, through eight storage sites, out to more than 35 consumer outlets. The UniStream PLCs coordinate pump sequencing, valve positioning and CIP rinses, ensuring:

• Continuous supply, even during peak demand or power interruptions
• Centralized visibility, so operators can track reservoir levels and pump run-times from a single SCADA dashboard
• Swift response, with SMS/email alerts for low-level alarms or pressure drops

Local technicians also appreciate the VNC-based remote HMI access—no need for lengthy hikes to adjust a setpoint or troubleshoot an unexpected alarm.
 

Outcomes & Endorsement

Since deployment, iFert’s MQTT-powered solution has delivered:

• Reliable supplies of potable water, controlled by UniStream
• Automated, on-schedule reporting, removing manual data-collection tasks
• Enhanced profitability for rural water companies thanks to optimized pump scheduling

“The strength of the UniStream PLC and UniLogic software, combined with rapid delivery from Unitronics and outstanding local support from i40 Networks, let us meet every requirement and hand over on time,”
—Benjamín Ramos, CTO & Co-founder, iFert
 

By marrying PLC-driven automation with MQTT messaging and a proprietary SCADA platform, iFert has set a new standard for reliable, data-rich water management in even the most remote mountain communities.