Method and system for managing water usage

Abstract

A method of retrofitting an existing water supply system including identifying a water usage device(s) in the existing water supply system suitable for retrofitting; retrofitting each identified water usage device with a new water usage device adapted to communicate water usage parameters of the existing water supply system when an elapsed time of a water usage event exceeds a preset limit, and cease communicating water usage parameters after completion and/or interruption of the water usage event; and thereafter operating the retrofitted water supply system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method of retrofitting an existing water supply system, the method comprising:
 identifying at least one water usage device in the existing water supply system suitable for retrofitting;   retrofitting each of the identified at least one water usage device with a new water usage device adapted to:   communicate water usage parameters of the existing water supply system when an elapsed time of a water usage event exceeds a preset limit, and   cease communicating water usage parameters after at least one of completion and interruption of the water usage event; and   thereafter operating the retrofitted water supply system.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the existing water supply system comprises at least one of a water supply source, a plurality of water supply lines, and a plurality of water delivery devices. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein communicating water usage parameters comprises using at least one transducer to communicate water usage parameters to a remote processor via a communication network. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising communicating at least one of historical maintenance issue data and historical maintenance repair data to the remote processor. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising correlating, ata remote processor, water usage data to at least one of historical maintenance issue data and historical maintenance repair data. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising receiving water usage parameter data from the at least one retrofitted water usage device. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein retrofitting the at least one water usage device with a new water usage device comprises providing a new water usage device comprising:
 a memory for storing, during a water usage event, at least one of water usage, water flow rate, elapsed time of the water usage event, water pressure, and water temperature;   a display device for visually displaying, in real-time, at least one of water usage, water flow rate, the elapsed time of the water usage event, water pressure, and water temperature; and   a microprocessor for communicating, by at least one transducer via a communications network, water usage parameters of the retrofitted water supply system to the processing device.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising the at least one transducer entering a standby mode after at least one of completion and interruption of the water usage event. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising the at last one transducer transmitting water usage data to another microprocessor associated with another retrofitted water usage device disposed in a common area with the retrofitted water usage device. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the new water usage device further comprises:
 a first sensor for measuring, continuously and in real-time, a volumetric flow rate and providing measured volumetric flow rate data signals to the microprocessor for storage in the memory;   a second sensor for measuring the elapsed time of the water usage event and providing measured elapsed time data signals to the microprocessor for storage in the memory; and   a third sensor for measuring, continuously and in real-time, the water temperature and providing measured water temperature data signals to the microprocessor for storage in the memory.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the new water usage device further comprises:
 a fourth sensor for measuring, continuously and in real-time, water pressure and providing measured water pressure data signals to the microprocessor for storage in the memory.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising enabling, via the microprocessor, a user to pre-set within the memory at least one of a water usage limit, an allowable time of water usage event, a water pressure limit, a flow rate limit, and a water temperature limit. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the new water usage device further comprises:
 a temperature measurement device;   a pressure measurement device;   at least one of a flow rate meter and a flow volume meter; and   a flow duration measurement device.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 providing a plurality of edge routers with the retrofitted at least one water usage device; and   configuring each edge router to communicate with a plurality of retrofitted water usage devices.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein each of the plurality of edge routers is configured to communicate data from a corresponding plurality of retrofitted water usage devices to the processing device via the communication network.