Mercy Housing: Water Leak Detection and Real Time Monitoring

Decatur Place is a 106-unit affordable housing property in Denver owned by Mercy Housing that faced escalating water costs and floods in 2022. Mercy Housing received a $23,000 grant from the Housing Partnership Network which enabled them to install flood and toilet sensors at Decatur Place that resulted in an initial 32% reduction in water consumption and lowered annual water bills by over $11,000.

Mercy Housing worked with a sensor technology firm to implement a comprehensive solution at Decatur Place. They installed toilet sensors to detect leaks by monitoring flow volume over time and flood sensors along baseboards to identify water buildup on floors. Signal boosters are plugged in throughout the property so that data from the toilet and flood sensors is transmitted to a remote dashboard that gives real-time alerts to property staff. Mercy also installed a continuous monitor on the property's main water meter, allowing for hourly water consumption quantification and the identification of water waste sources. The sensor installation was coordinated simultaneously with other onsite retrofits to minimize tenant disruption. The total cost for the flood and toilet sensors was $43,000, with $23,000 subsidized by a grant from the Housing Partnership Network.

The water management project at Decatur Place resulted in an impressive 32% reduction in water consumption within a month. The system quickly identified and addressed leaking toilets, leading to a decrease of 267,000 gallons between November and December 2022, and identified seven potential instances of water intrusion. Over time, though, it was difficult for Mercy Housing to sustain the water savings they saw in the first six months of implementation as water use began to creep back up at the property, especially during summer months. To address this, they focused on educating new property staff about the product and encouraging them to address work orders quickly. Ultimately, the project provided estimated annual savings of 4,054,000 gallons and $11,606 in the first year. The tools empower property maintenance staff to swiftly address leaks which saves time, mitigates environmental health concerns, and minimizes the likelihood of tenant displacement.