New Device Aims To Detect Silent Leaks

A new sensor-equipped device can detect pipes that are quietly leaking—and quietly draining ratepayers' pocketbooks.

The Water Hero "is strapped to the side of a municipal water meter, and when it detects excess flow, it automatically shuts off the water, preventing flood damage, which costs the country $6 billion in damages annually," Take Part reported.

The creator of the device, Dan Sterling, says it can save a homeowner about $600 each year. The device costs about $200.

"Undetected leaks in a single home can mean 10,000 gallons of wasted water a year. That adds up to 1 trillion gallons nationwide at a time when drought and climate change are straining water supplies," Take Part reported.

Sterling originally invented the Water Hero to monitor the temperature of his water in an effort to keep his pipes from freezing.

"While working on the project, he shut off his water and then heard a gurgling sound, which turned out to be leaks in his toilets," the report said.

Sterling said he had not known his pipes were leaking.

“I realized my leaks came from two eroded toilet flappers,” he said, per the report. “Easy to fix, but I had no idea because they were silently leaking about 15 gallons a day.”

Sterling explained how the Water Hero works.

“The meter is like a water wheel, so as the water flows, it spins magnets that turn dials, which tells the city how much water you use,” he said, per the report. “Our device can read the magnetic field and accurately measure water use, give you real-time data, and detect whether there’s a leak.”

The system consists of two different parts, including a flow sensor connected to a network, which attaches to the water meter, and a motorized on/off switch that attaches to the shutoff lever, according to Digital Trends.

"The sensor module gauges how much water is flowing by listening to the magnetic pulses your water meter puts off, and also tracks temperature and humidity in the room with additional sensors," the report said.

If a leak is detected, the invention takes care of it all by itself, and even contacts you on your mobile phone. The device hooks into a home Wi-Fi network and is accompanied by an app.

"Homeowners can customize settings and specify a threshold level, and if the outflow exceeds that level, it shuts off the water and texts you. So if you are going away for the weekend but the sprinklers and ice maker in your refrigerator will still come on, then you can make allowances for that water use and set a threshold level," the report said.

The product will launch in 2015. It currently has a page on the funding platform Kickstarter.

"Plumbing catastrophe avoidance for everyone. Stops pipe bursts & small costly plumbing leaks. SmartPhone controlled & easy install," the page says.