A Low-Cost IoT-Driven Reuse of Condensate Water for Automated Plant Irrigation

In this undergraduate paper, we present the implementation of an automated irrigation system for low-cost household plants. The system leverages water collected from air conditioner condensation as its primary irrigation source, promoting sustainable water reuse. We used a moisture sensor inserted 5 cm into the soil, connected to an ESP32, which collects moisture data and sends it to a broker via the MQTT protocol. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the system's operation and its applications, benefits, and limitations. The analysis provides a clearer understanding of how emerging technologies can be used to optimize plant care, promoting efficiency in water resource usage, particularly through the repurposing of otherwise wasted condensate water.