Perceived LED brightness will give, at best, only a rough indication of pot position, because of apparent/actual brightness varying according to (a) ambient light level (the LED will appear much brighter at night than in the day), (b) supply voltage (unless you use a voltage stabiliser), (c) LED age (LEDs dim with age).
How quickly does the valve/drum move? If only a fraction of a second from one required position to the next, then won't use of a momentary switch to set the position accurately be rather fiddly?