Remote monitoring and smart sensing for water meter system and leakage detection

Electrical water meters are commonly used for remote monitoring through networks, however, these devices waste energy because they must be switched on constantly. This study proposes a novel metering system, combining traditional mechanical devices with electronic water meters. The proposed device is a low-cost, non-contact arrow sensor based on capacitive signal sensing, in which the circuit is only supplied power when the server sends a request for a measured value, thereby reducing power consumption. We also propose a water-flow monitoring system operable on a wireless network in which water leakage can be detected through software analysis performed by a control centre at the server. The proposed system improves the efficiency of water management and reduces energy consumption, human errors and the waste of water resources.