Abstract: A remote monitoring system and a method of operating a system having a pump is provided. The remote monitoring system includes a vacuum/pressure sensor coupled to measure a vacuum or a pressure in the system. A temperature sensor is positioned to measure an ambient temperature. A fluid level sensor is positioned to measure fluid in a collection tank. A controller is operably coupled to the vacuum/pressure sensor, the temperature sensor and the fluid level sensor, the controller having a communications circuit that is operable to transmit and receive signals via a cellular SMS text message communications medium, the controller having one or more processors that are responsive to nontransitory executable computer instructions, the one or more processors being responsive to change the operation of the pump in response to an operating signal from the communications circuit, the temperature sensor or the vacuum/pressure sensor or the fluid level sensor.