The Internet of Things (IoT) is not a new concept. It started to gain ground around 12–15 years ago as the world saw a shift towards “smarter” things, like smart homes and smart irrigation systems. Essentially, IoT is what makes the “smart” in smart things possible, like the smart camera that sends an alert to your phone when someone is at your door.
Kroshka__nastya | Freepik.com
The basic idea of IoT is to connect the physical world with the digital world through the use of a number of different technologies. For example, a smart thermostat can adjust a room’s temperature to your personal preferences automatically.
And what does that have to do with plumbing? Well, there is some smart tech that is finding its way into the plumbing world, and others that have already established themselves. The internet of things, however, is a concept that has been floating around since the 1960s, only being realised in the 1980s, and being named in the late 1990s.
IoT can be used in water filtration. This means that real-time monitoring of changes in water pressure, water flow and water quality can be used to assess water filtration.
It can also allow for timely notification when it comes to leak detection and repairs that need to be made, with signals even being sent to a smart phone. This means of measurement and data collection has a wider impact, allowing maintenance crews to draw up maintenance schedules enabling them to get to a problem before it becomes a disaster.
This also extends to the smart toilet. Sensors can detect cleanliness, whether the stall is occupied (if it’s a public toilet), water level and if any leaks are present. The data is sent to the cloud, where it can be used to dispatch cleaners or repair workers. This in turn helps managers keep their facilities well maintained, clean and running as smoothly as possible.
Sources:
- Revolutionizing Clean Water: IoT-Powered Smart Water Filtration Systems (waterfilteradvisor.com)
- How IoT technology enhances smart water quality management solutions – IoT Agenda (techtarget.com)
- What is IoT: The Internet of Things explained | McKinsey
