Pipe Guard: Real-Time Leak Detection and Management

Abstract

Introduction

Overview

Water is a vital resource, and its efficient use is hampered by traditional monitoring systems that rely on manual inspections, lacking real-time data and alert mechanisms. These limitations lead to undetected leaks, unauthorized usage, poor water quality, and increased costs.

Proposed Solution

An IoT-based integrated water monitoring system is proposed using:

• NodeMCU (ESP8266) for processing and connectivity

• Blynk app for real-time remote monitoring

• Flow sensors (to detect leaks and theft)

• Water level sensors (to prevent overflow/shortages)

• Turbidity sensors (to assess water quality)

• LCD display for real-time local data visualization

• Buzzer for auditory alerts during critical events

Existing System Limitations

• Manual, slow, and error-prone

• No instant alerts or remote monitoring

• Fragmented approach to leak detection, level measurement, and water quality

• High water wastage and operational costs

System Components

• NodeMCU: Controls the system and communicates with Blynk

• Sensors: Collect water flow, level, and quality data

• LCD Display: Shows real-time measurements

• Buzzer: Provides immediate alerts

• Blynk App: Displays remote alerts and system data on mobile devices

• Ultrasonic Sensor: Measures water levels

• Power Supply: Supports system operation via battery or adapter

Working Process

1. Sensors collect data on flow rate, water level, and turbidity.

2. NodeMCU processes this data and checks for anomalies.

3. LCD displays real-time sensor values.

4. Blynk app sends alerts to users when abnormalities are detected.

5. Buzzer activates for immediate on-site alerts.

6. Continuous monitoring allows trend analysis and optimization.

Results

• Successfully detected leaks, theft, and water contamination in real-time.

• Reduced water wastage and improved response times through mobile alerts and buzzer warnings.

• Enhanced sustainability via continuous automated monitoring and data-driven decisions.

Key Benefits

• Real-time detection and alerts

• Efficient, centralized water monitoring

• Reduced manual labor and operational delays

• Promotes sustainable and secure water usage

Conclusion

The IoT-based water leakage, theft detection, and water quality monitoring system offers a smart and automated approach to managing water resources efficiently. By integrating flow sensors, water level sensors, and turbidity sensors with NodeMCU, the system enables real-time tracking of water usage, reservoir levels, and contamination levels. This ensures immediate detection of leaks, unauthorized water extraction, and changes in water quality, helping to prevent resource wastage. The use of the Blynk app for real-time notifications enhances user awareness, allowing for prompt corrective actions whenever abnormalities are detected. Additionally, the LCD display provides continuous visual feedback, while the buzzer ensures immediate alerts in case of critical conditions. These features contribute to better monitoring and control of water resources. Overall, the proposed system improves water conservation, minimizes wastage, and supports sustainable resource utilization. By leveraging IoT technology, it provides a cost-effective and scalable solution to modern water management challenges, making it suitable for residential, industrial, and municipal applications.

References

[1] Adam Openshaw, Kalvin Vu. \"Irrigation Leak Detection Using Flow Rate Sensors to Detect Breaks in an Irrigation System.\" Available from: Cal Poly Digital Commons. [2] Teddy Ariyatham. \"Water Leak Detection.\" California State University, Northridge. Available from: CSUN ScholarWorks. [3] Ria Sood, Manjit Kaur, Hemant Lenka. \"Design and Development of Automatic Water Flow Meter.\" International Journal of Computer Science, Engineering and Applications (IJCSEA), Vol. 3, No. 3, June 2013. [4] T. Deepiga, A. Sivasankari. \"Smart Water Monitoring System Using Wireless Sensor Network at Home/Office.\" International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 1305-1314, July 2015. [5] Vijayakumar N, Ramya R. \"The Real-Time Monitoring of Water Quality in IoT Environment.\" Circuit, Power and Computing Technologies (ICCPCT), 2015. [6] Made I. S., Wibawa I. K. P., Santiyasa I. W. \"Prototype Development of Water Turbidity Measuring Device with Arduino UNO and LCD.\" International Journal of Scientific Research, Vol. 6, No. 6, 2015-2017. [7] Wiranto G, Hermida I. D. P., Fatah A. \"Design and Realisation of a Turbidimeter Using TSL250 Photodetector and Arduino Microcontroller.\" Semiconductor Electronics (ICSE), 2016 IEEE International Conference, pp. 324-327. [8] Chen, J., Zhang, W., & Chen, H. \"Research and Application of IoT Technology in Water Quality Monitoring.\" 2019 International Conference on Smart Grid and Electrical Automation (ICSGEA), pp. 1-5.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 P. Sravani, K. Aditya, M. Devaki Charisma, M. Yellagi, T. Vamsi Krishna. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.