Fabrication of a Solar-Powered Water Pumping System with Remote Monitoring for Rural Communities in Borno State

Access to clean water remains a fundamental development challenge in many rural communities across Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria, particularly in areas with limited grid electricity infrastructure. This project details the fabrication of a solar-powered water pumping system integrated with a GSM-based remote monitoring unit to support water supply in off-grid rural settings. The system comprises photovoltaic solar panels, a charge controller, a deep-cycle battery bank, and a submersible DC water pump, all coordinated through a microcontroller-based monitoring node. The remote monitoring unit transmits pump status, battery charge levels, and water tank levels via SMS to a designated administrator's mobile phone. The system was fabricated and deployed in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State as a pilot installation serving a community borehole. Over a six-month monitoring period, the system delivered an average daily water output of 4,800 litres, meeting the minimum estimated demand of the 250-person target community. System downtime was recorded at 3.7 percent, attributable primarily to cloudy weather periods exceeding two consecutive days. A maintenance guide was developed and translated into Hausa for local operator use. Cost comparison analysis shows that the solar solution is more economical over a 10-year lifecycle than diesel-powered alternatives. This study provides a replicable model for sustainable water supply engineering in conflict-affected and remote communities in north-eastern Nigeria. Keywords: solar pumping, remote monitoring, rural water supply, GSM telemetry, Borno State