WaterCompass continuously monitors your water infrastructure and generates alerts when unusual consumption activity or system issues are detected. These alerts help you identify potential leaks, abnormal usage patterns, and device health issues before they become costly problems.
How Alert Notifications Are Delivered
WaterCompass alert notifications can be delivered via email, text message, or both, based on your preference. You can also customize the scheduling window for when alerts are active by setting a preferred start time and end time. By default, all alert types are monitored 24 hours a day, every day.
To update your notification delivery preferences or alert schedule, contact your Customer Success Manager.
Quick Reference: All Alert Types
| Category | Alert Type | What it indicates |
| System | Low Battery | Device battery is low and needs replacement |
| System | No Communication | Device cellular connection has stopped reporting |
| Usage | High Hourly Usage | Hourly water usage exceeds the set threshold |
| Usage | High Daily Usage | Daily water usage exceeds the set threshold |
| Usage | Continuous Usage | Flat unexpected flow exceed the set threshold |
| Control | Control Point Leak | Water flow post valve closure, possible valve failure |
| Control | Control Point Leak Warning | Warning 2 minutes after the valve has closed |
| Control | Control Point Closed | Control Point valve has been closed |
| Control | Control Point Open | Control Point valve has been opened |
Understanding Alert Units: Pulses vs. Gallons
The units displayed in your alert details depend on the calibration status of your monitoring devices.
When a device is first installed, it operates at Level 1 (uncalibrated). At this stage, WaterCompass cannot yet convert raw sensor readings into gallons, so alert thresholds and actual values are reported in pules. Once calibration is complete, the device advances to Level 2 (calibrated). From that point forward, all alert thresholds and actual consumption values are reported in gallons (GPH for hourly data, gallons for daily data).
If your alerts currently display in pulses, your device is still in the calibration process. No action is required on your part, calibration is handled by our Professional Services team.
System Alerts
System alerts notify you of issues related to the health and connectivity of your flow monitor devices. These alerts are not tied to water usage, the indicate that a device may need attention.
Low Battery
This alert is generated when a monitoring device's battery level drops below the acceptable threshold. A Low Battery alert means the device may stop reporting data if the battery is not replaced.
Why it matters: Responding promptly ensure continuous monitoring coverages at your site.
No Communication
This alert is generated when a monitoring devices has not communicated with the WaterCompass platform within the expected reporting window. Loss of communication may indicate a device malfunction, a connectivity issue, or a battery failure. While the devices is offline, usage data and leak detection are unavailable for that Monitoring Point.
Why it matters: Early detection of communication loss prevents gaps in your water monitoring coverage.
Usage Alerts
Usage alerts are triggered when water consumption at a Monitoring Point exceeds its established threshold. These alerts are the primary tool for detecting leaks, broken lines, and abnormal consumption patterns. Each usage alert compares the actual measure flow against a defined threshold and reports the result as a value and percentage above that threshold.
High Hourly Usage
This alert is generated when water usage during a single hour exceeds the hourly threshold set for that Monitoring Point. The alert details include the threshold value, the actual measured usage, and the percentage by which the threshold was exceeded.
Why it matters: Detects sudden spikes in water consumption, such as a burst pipe, a stuck valve, or an irrigation system running outside its scheduled window.
High Daily Usage
This alert is generated when total water usage for a 24-hour period exceeds the daily threshold set for that Monitoring Point. Like hourly alerts, the alert details include the threshold, actual usage, and the percentage above the threshold.
Why it matters: Identifies sustained overconsumption that may not appear as a dramatic hourly spike but still represents abnormal demand across the full day.
Continuous Usage
This alert is generated when water flow is detected without interruption over a sustained period, indicating that was has been running continuously beyond what is expected. The alert compares the actual continuous flow against threshold and reports the percentage above that threshold.
Why it matters: Especially important for identifying slow leaks, running toilets, stuck valves, or other conditions where water flows nonstop. These alerts frequently warrant prompt investigation.
WaterCompass Control Alerts
WaterCompass Control alerts apply only to sites equipped with a shut-off valve with Control Point devices. If your site does not have a a Control Point installed, these alert types will not appear in your alert settings. Control Point alerts notify you of valve activity and leak detection events.
Control Point Leak
This alert is generated when a confirmed leak is detected at a Control Point. A Control Point Leak indicates that water flow has met the criteria for a verified leak event, and immediate investigation is recommended.
Why it matters: Confirmed leak detection enables response to prevent water damage and waste.
Control Point Leak Warning
This alert is generated when the valve has closed and flow conditions continue, suggesting a possible valve closure failure.
Why it matters: May suggest a system issue, including failure to close the valve.
Control Point Closed
This alert is generated when a Control Point valve has been closed. This notification confirms the valve is in the closed position when the closure is triggered via WaterCompass.net in response to a detected leak.
Why it matters: Provides visibility and confirmation that water flow has been shut off at the Control Point.
Control Point Open
This alert is generated when a Control Point valve has been opened. This notification confirms that the valve is in the open position, ensuring you have visibility into when water flow has been restored at that Control Point.
Why it matters: Confirms that water service has been restored after a shutoff event.
How Alerts Appear in WaterCompass
When an alert is generated, it is visible in several areas of the WaterCompass dashboard:
- My Dashboard displays a summary of current leaks and warnings, showing active counts for High Hourly Usage, High Daily Usage, and Continuous Usage alerts across your portfolio.
- Alert Notifications provides a details view of all alerts, including an Alert Trend chart and an Alert Details table. Each row show the Site Name, Water Meter, Alert type, Threshold, Actual value, percentage above the threshold, and the date and time the alert was generated.
- Event Labels can be applied to alerts to categorize and track the root cause, such as “Broken Line”, “Broken Valve”, “Equipment Tuning”, etc.
- Analytics displays the consumption trend patterns, along with the thresholds for a specific day.
Investigating a Leak Alert
If you receive a Usage alert or Control Point leak alert, the following resources can help you identify the source:
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