Water management system

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a water management system. One aspect of a version of the invention comprises a manifold with separate lines running to separate appliances and fixtures. Each individual line detects leaks, alerts that a leak has occurred, shuts down only the leaking line, and provides a visual cue to alert that the line is leaking. In one embodiment of a version of the invention, the water management system comprises a hot water heater water management system that detects leaks, sounds an alarm, shuts down the water heater power, and drains the water heater. In a preferred embodiment, once the water heater is repaired and refilled, the power is automatically restored.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water management apparatus comprising:
 A water manifold system, comprising:
 a water manifold having individual ports attached thereto, 
 each individual port having a water line, 
 each port being equipped with a water flow measurement element, 
 the water flow measurement element being in contact with a port shut off element. 
   
     
     
         2 . A water management apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising the water flow measurement element sends a signal to the port shut off element if irregular flow is measured in a water line and the port is shut off. 
     
     
         3 . A water manifold system as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the water flow measurement element is a pressure switch, and   the port shut off element is a normally open valve.   
     
     
         4 . A water manifold system as in  claim 1 , further comprising,
 the manifold comprises an alert element and a manual shut off valve,   the alert element being activated when a leak is detected, and   the manual shutoff valve allowing a user to manually shut off a port.   
     
     
         5 . A water manifold system as in  claim 1 , further comprising, the manifold system operates on alternating current. 
     
     
         6 . A water management apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the water manifold has a hot side and a cold side,   each hot and cold side having water lines,   each water line having a flow sensor for detecting water flow,   each water line having a normally open solenoid valve for shutting off a leaking line,   each water line having a detecting light for alerting that a line is comprised, and   each water line having a manual shut off valve.   
     
     
         7 . A water management apparatus comprising:
 A manifold, the manifold comprising:
 a hot side and a cold side, 
 the hot side having individual hot side ports and the cold side having individual cold side ports, 
 the hot side ports having hot side water lines and the cold ports having cold side water lines, 
 the hot and cold side water lines running to devices needing water, 
   A flow detecting element in each hot side and cold side port, said element detecting the flow of fluid in each individual hot water line and cold water line,   An individual water line shut off element, said element shutting off a line if an irregular fluid flow is detected, while keeping the other regularly flowing lines operational, and   An alerting element for alerting a person that an irregular fluid flow has been detected.   
     
     
         8 . A water management apparatus, as in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 the apparatus comprises a main hot water line and a main cold water line connected to the manifold,   the main hot water line and main cold water line comprising:
 a flow detecting element in each main hot water line and main cold water line, said flow detecting element detecting the flow of fluid in each individual main water line, 
 a water line shut off element for shutting off the main water line if an irregular fluid flow is detected, while keeping the other regularly flowing lines operational, and 
 an alert element for alerting a person that an irregular fluid flow has been detected. 
   
     
     
         9 . A water management apparatus, as in  claim 7 , further comprising the apparatus is operated on alternating current. 
     
     
         10 . A water management apparatus, as in  claim 7 , further comprising the apparatus is operated on 24 volts alternating current. 
     
     
         11 . A water management apparatus for hot water heaters, the apparatus comprising:
 a water detection element located below a hot water heater,   the water detection element being in contact with a shut off element,   the shut off element being attached to a water heater supply line,   the water detection element sending a signal to the shut off element when water is detected.   
     
     
         12 . A water management system as in  claim 11 , further comprising, the water detection element detects fluid and a signal is sent to a power shut off element for shutting off power to the hot water heater. 
     
     
         13 . A water management system as in  claim 11 , further comprising, the water detection element detects fluid and a signal is sent to a draining element for draining water from the hot water heater. 
     
     
         14 . A water management system as in  claim 11 , further comprising, the hot water heater is reset when the leak is corrected, except for the power, and the hot water heater is automatically refilled with water. 
     
     
         15 . A water management system as in  claim 14 , further comprising, the hot water heater power is automatically turned on once a pressure sensing element detects the proper amount of water pressure inside the hot water heater. 
     
     
         16 . A water management system as in  claim 11 , further comprising
 the water detection element located below a hot water heater is a normally open wet switch,   upon the normally open wet switch detecting water a signal is sent to a relay box,   the relay box sends a signal to a normally open solenoid valve located on a cold water supply line,   once the signal reaches the normally open solenoid valve located on the cold water supply line the water feeding the hot water heater is shut off.   
     
     
         17 . A water management system as in  claim 16 , further comprising after a leak has been detected and the main water line is shut off, a signal is sent to a normally closed drain valve and a normally closed anti-vacuum valve allowing the water heater to completely drain all remaining water from the water heater. 
     
     
         18 . A water management system as in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 upon the leak being corrected, the system is reset, except for the power the reset action causes the water heater to be refilled with water,   the water heater having a psi switch for detecting a proper refill level,   the psi switch sending a signal to a power relay once a proper amount of water is detected,   the power relay restoring the power to the water heater.   
     
     
         19 . A water management apparatus for hot water heaters as in  claim 11 , further comprising a leak detection element is signaled upon water being detected by the water detection element. 
     
     
         20 . A building water management system comprising a water manifold, and a hot water heater management device,
 the water manifold comprising:
 a hot side and a cold side, 
 the hot side having individual hot side ports and the cold side having individual cold side ports, 
 the hot side ports having hot side water lines and the cold ports having cold side water lines, 
 the hot and cold side water lines running to devices needing water, 
 the ports having flow detecting elements therein detecting the flow of fluid in each individual hot water line and cold water line, 
 each individual water line having a shut off element capable of shutting off the individual water line if an irregular fluid flow is detected, and 
 each individual water line having an alerting element for alerting a person that an irregular fluid flow has been detected, 
   the hot water heater management device comprising:
 a water detection element located below a hot water heater, 
 the water detection element being in contact with a shut off element, 
 the shut off element being attached to a water heater supply line, 
 the water detection element sending a signal to the shut off element when water is detected, 
 the water detection element detecting fluid and sending a signal to a power shut off element for shutting off power to the hot water heater, 
 the water detection element detecting fluid and sending a signal to a draining element for draining water from the hot water heater, 
 the hot water heater being reset when the leak is corrected, except for the power, and the hot water heater is automatically refilled, 
 the hot water heater power being automatically turned on once a pressure sensing element detects the proper amount of water pressure inside the hot water heater. 
   
     
     
         21 . A building water management system as in  claim 20 , further comprising:
 the water detection element located below a hot water heater is a normally open wet switch,   upon the normally open wet switch detecting water a signal is sent to a relay box, the relay box sends a signal to a normally open solenoid valve located on a cold water supply line,   once the signal reaches the normally open solenoid valve located on the cold water supply line the water feeding the hot water heater is shut off,   after a leak has been detected and the main water line is shut off, a signal is sent to a normally closed drain valve and a normally closed anti-vacuum valve allowing the water heater to completely drain all remaining water from the water heater,   upon the leak being corrected, the system is reset, except for the power the reset action causes the water heater to be refilled with water,   the water heater having a psi switch for detecting a proper refill level,   the psi switch sending a signal to a power relay once a proper amount of water is detected,   the power relay restoring the power to the water heater.