1. Log into WaterCompass.net and navigate to Monitoring Points from the left menu.

2. Use the My Sites dropdown to select the site containing your target monitoring point.

3. Locate the specific monitoring point in the site list.

4. Click View Analytics to review historical usage data.

5. Click Manage Thresholds to open the threshold configuration page.

The flow monitor system supports three types of alert, each designed to detect different usage anomalies:

Continuous Usage thresholds detect prolonged water flow that may indicate a leak or fixture left running. Set an Acceptable Minimum Threshold (Gallons) for each day of the week.

Configuration Steps

1. Locate the Continuous Usage - Acceptable Minimum Threshold (Gallons) section.

2. Enter threshold values in each day column (Sunday through Saturday).

3. To apply the same value to all days, enter the value in the dropdown field and click Set all thresholds.

4. To apply values only to continuous thresholds, use the Set continuous thresholds button.

5. Click Save changes to apply your configuration.

High Daily Usage thresholds monitor total consumption over a 24-hour period. This alert type uses a Critical severity level to identify significant daily consumption anomalies.

Configuration Steps

1. Locate the High Daily Usage (Gallons) section.

2. In the Critical severity row, enter threshold values for each day of the week.

3. To bulk-set daily thresholds, enter a value and click Set daily thresholds.

4. Click Save changes to apply your configuration.

High Hourly Usage thresholds provide granular monitoring by tracking consumption within specific time windows. This alert type uses a two-tier system to differentiate between peak and off-peak periods.

Understanding the Tier System

Configuration Steps

1. Locate the High Hourly Usage Threshold (Gallons) section.

2. Review the table showing Day, Tier, Hour of Day, and Alert Threshold for each entry.

3. Click on an Alert Threshold cell to edit the value for that specific day and tier.

4. To bulk-set hourly thresholds, enter a value and click Set hourly thresholds.

5. Click Save changes to apply your configuration.

Different meter types require different threshold configurations based on their expected usage patterns. Use the guidance below to configure thresholds appropriately.

Identifying High/Low Tier Usage Patterns

Before configuring thresholds, determine whether the meter exhibits distinct usage tiers and how consistent those patterns are likely to remain.

Domestic meters typically show consistent daily patterns with distinct peak and off-peak periods. Configure tiers to capture these variations.

Tier Configuration:

• Set tier 1 start time to the start of peak hourly consumption for a specific day.
• Set tier 2 start time to the start of the off-peak hourly consumption.

Tier Configuration Example:

These meter types may have variable or unpredictable usage patterns. Use a simplified configuration approach.

Tier Configuration:

Leave Tier 1 at the default start time of 12:00 AM.

Leave Tier 2 at the default start time of 12:00 PM.

Calculating Threshold Values:

1. Obtain at least one full day of usage data (any day will work).

2. In WaterCompass, inspect the hourly usage values for that day.

3. Identify the hour with the highest usage at any point during the day.

4. Multiply the highest hourly value by 1.75 to calculate your threshold.

5. Apply this same threshold value to all Tiers and all Days.

Effective threshold management requires analyzing usage patterns and making informed adjustments. Follow these guidelines to optimize your threshold settings.

1. Analyze consumption data over at least two weeks to identify any existing leaks or anomalies.

2. Identify peaks in high and low usage within the timeframe.

3. Calculate threshold values by multiplying the baseline usage by 1.75 and rounding to the nearest multiple of 25.

4. Apply threshold values to all threshold types during initial setup.

5. Assess the water signature for any deviations in consumption patterns.

6. Integrate customer feedback to refine the analysis.

The best approach for adjusting thresholds varies based on property type, meter type, usage patterns, anticipated future patterns, and the reason for adjustment. Consider all these factors before making changes.

Option 1: Adjust Tier Start Times (High Hourly Usage Only)

If the usage event triggering alerts occurs near the Tier 1 or Tier 2 start times, adjust the start times to include the usage event. This prevents future alerts without changing the threshold value.

Option 2: Adjust Threshold Values

If the usage event does not occur near tier boundaries, you will need to increase the threshold value to prevent future alerts.

Make incremental changes: Small adjustments minimize the risk of missing significant anomalies.

Monitor after adjustments: Review alert patterns for 2-3 weeks following any threshold change.

Balance sensitivity: Set thresholds high enough to avoid nuisance alerts but low enough to detect actual leaks.

Reassess periodically: Review thresholds quarterly or when property usage patterns change.

There are three different types of sensor modes: Detection Mode, Relative Usage Mode, and Usage Mode. Please see the WaterCompass Sensor Modes KB article for more details on sensor modes.