How IoT Platforms Detect Water Leaks and Damage 

IoT Platforms use sensors, data aggregation, analytics, and machine learning algorithms to monitor water systems and detect anomalies instantaneously.  IoT sensors can be placed in critical areas of water systems, such as pipes, valves, and faucets to detect leaks and damage.  These sensors can measure water flow, pressure and temperature and alert the facility management team when any deviation from normal range is detected. Moreover, IoT platforms can provide visual data of the water system, enabling the facility managers to identify problem areas and take corrective action before damage occurs.

There are numerous benefits to using IoT platforms for detecting water leaks in residential and administrative buildings, which can help prevent high costs associated with damage repairs.

Firstly, it saves money by detecting water leaks and pipe damage early, allowing for timely intervention, preventing further damage, and reducing repair costs.  IoT platforms can also help the management teams optimize their water system, reducing water wastage, and cutting down utility bills.

Secondly, it prevents environmental hazards that pose serious health risks to residents or employees.  Water leaks and pipe damage can create moist and damp conditions that are ideal for mold growth, causing a range of health problems, including allergies, respiratory problems, and infections. Water leaks can also lead to water contamination containing harmful bacteria, viruses, and chemicals, which in turn can lead to severe illnesses.

Thirdly, it improves the maintenance performance by providing real-time data of the water system, enabling the facility management team to identify areas that require maintenance or repair.  This information can be used to schedule preventive maintenance, reducing the risk of future damage and extending the lifetime of the water system.

Lastly,  it enhances efficiency by automating several aspects of water system management, such as leak detection and water usage optimization.  This automation can improve the efficiency of the water system, reducing maintenance costs, and improving the overall experience for residents.

The OCTOBUS IoT platform has the potential to provide significant support in this area. Facility management teams can install leak sensors in all individual units or just on each floor (various options available) and subscribe to OCTOBUS for monitoring their own water system.

Implementing an IoT platform for water leak prevention involves initial investment, including the cost of sensors, Sigfox subscription, and an IoT Platform subscription (OCTOBUS in our case). The costs of water leak guard sensors in Thailand range from $25 to $500, Sigfox subscription per 1 sensor/month is $6.5, and OCTOBUS subscription per 1 sensor/month is $3. While you are doing the math for your business case, we would like to provide you with an example.

Let us say, a facility management team with 50 units in its building installs leak sensors to all of them and subscribes to the OCTOBUS platform for monitoring its own water system using Sigfox sensors. The platform detects a water leak in one of the units that would have gone unnoticed otherwise. The leak was caused by faulty pipe, which, if not detected, would have caused significant water damage not only to this unit but also the adjacent ones. The estimated cost of repairing the water damage, replacing the pipe and compensating the damages to the unit owners/tenants (plus lost rent) is approximately $8,500. However, since the leak was detected early, the management was able to intervene promptly and fix the problem, reducing the total repair cost to $1,500 only. 

Furthermore, the OCTOBUS platform helps the management optimize its water system, resulting in a 10% reduction in water wastage. Assuming the average monthly water bill for the whole facility was $900 (yes, water is cheap in Thailand!), this translates to a savings of $90 per month or $1,080 annually. In this scenario, the facility management was able to save a total of $8,080 in repair costs and utility bills in the first year alone, and the savings would continue to accrue in subsequent years. If this scenario is extended to more cases per year, which is quite realistic, the advantages and cost savings become even more significant.

Additional Benefits of Using OCTOBUS

In conclusion, the OCTOBUS IoT platform provides a perfect solution for water leak detection in various types of facilities. With innovative technology, residential and administrative buildings can have their water systems monitored and well optimized.

OCTOBUS enables landlords, building owners, and/or facility managers to make use of the benefits which the Internet of Things / IoT has to offer. It is easy to install, it is affordable, and it easily integrates with devices from various vendors. For more information, please visit our website: www.octobus.asia.

To see how to connect sensors to our platform and obtain the data, please watch our short tutorials: links to YouTube.