Water management system for a building

Abstract

A water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows and leaks within an entire building and further provide reporting on water consumption patterns so as to provide improved water management for buildings such as multi-unit high rise residential buildings. The present invention includes a plurality of first sensor assemblies wherein the first sensor assembly is operable in two modes and measures temperature and vibration of water pipes. A plurality of second sensor assemblies are included wherein the second sensor assemblies are configured at installation to be operable in one of three modes. The second sensor assembly further includes an environmental sensor and a tamper switch. A water meter monitor is further included and the elements of the system are all communicably coupled via wireless communication protocols. The data collected is transferred to a server wherein software thereon provides operation of the invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building wherein the water monitoring system comprises:
 at least one first sensor assembly, said at least one first sensor assembly having a temperature sensor, said at least one first sensor assembly having a vibration sensor, said at least one first sensor assembly configured to measure temperature and vibrations of a water supply pipe, said at least one first sensor assembly further including a processing module, said processing module having electronics configured to receive, store, transmit and manipulate data, said at least one first sensor assembly being configured for a first mode or a second mode;   at least one second sensor assembly, said at least one second sensor assembly being configured to be mounted in alternate locations in the building, said at least one second sensor assembly configurable to operate in a first mode, a second mode or a third mode, said at least one second sensor assembly having an environmental sensor, said environmental sensor configured to measure humidity and temperature of an area in which the at least one second sensor is located, said at least one second sensor assembly further including a processing module, said processing module having electronics configured to receive, store, transmit and manipulate data;   a water meter monitor, said water meter monitor being operably coupled to a water meter coupled to an incoming water supply pipe for the building; and   a server, wherein the server is located in a location remote to the building, said server being communicably coupled to said at least one first sensor assembly, said at least one second sensor assembly and said water meter monitor, said server having software loaded thereon configured to provide operation of the water monitoring system.   
     
     
         2 . The water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building as recited in  claim 1 , wherein in the first mode of the at least first sensor assembly the at least one sensor assembly is operably coupled to a water pipe that is configured to move water in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         3 . The water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second mode of the at least one first sensor assembly the at least one first sensor assembly is operably coupled to a plumbing pipe at a point where water has an opportunity to exit a plumbing system in a controlled manner. 
     
     
         4 . The water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second sensor assembly includes a flood sensor, said flood sensor configured to detect water surroundably present to the at least one second sensor assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second sensor assembly further includes a leak sensor, said leak sensor configured to detect water on a pipe to which the at least one second sensor assembly is coupled up to 1.5 meters away from the at least one second sensor assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second sensor assembly further includes a pulse sensor, said pulse sensor configured to be operably coupled to the water meter, said pulse sensor configured to record and store pulses generated on a pulse output cable coupled to the water meter. 
     
     
         7 . The water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building as recited in  claim 1 , wherein in the first mode of the at least one second sensor assembly the second sensor assembly is configured to utilize the flood sensor to detect a flood situation. 
     
     
         8 . The water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building as recited in  claim 7 , wherein in the second mode of the at least one second sensor assembly the second sensor assembly is configured to utilize the leak sensor to detect a leak situation. 
     
     
         9 . The water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building as recited in  claim 1 , wherein in the third mode of the at least one second sensor assembly the second sensor assembly is configured to utilize the pulse sensor to count and record pulses generated by the water meter. 
     
     
         10 . The water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second sensor assembly includes a tamper switch, said tamper switch configured to provide notification upon the at least on second sensor assembly being tampered. 
     
     
         11 . The water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one second sensor assembly is operable to utilize a humidity reading from the environmental sensor in an event of an alarm generated by the at least one second sensor assembly and upon the humidity being average the alarm is identified as a priority. 
     
     
         12 . The water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one first sensor assembly further includes a power supply, wireless communication antennae and memory module operably coupled to the processing module of the at least one first sensor assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one second sensor assembly further includes a power supply, wireless communication antennae and memory module operably coupled to the processing module of the at least one second sensor assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The water monitoring system that is operable to measure and detect water flows, leaks and consumption patterns within an entire building as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one first sensor assembly includes an ambient thermistor sensor, said ambient thermistor sensor configured to detect a temperature of an area in which the at least one first sensor assembly is located.