WaterCompass utilizes a range of IoT-enabled devices to collect detailed water usage data from your site. To ensure data accuracy, many of these devices undergo a site-specific calibration process. This process aligns the device with your water meter or water supply line to meet HydroPoint’s precision standards.
HydroPoint typically performs this calibration during initial installation. If the water meter is inactive at that time (e.g., winterized or under construction), calibration is deferred. Regardless of calibration status, these devices continuously monitor water flow and trigger alerts for anomalous activity. HydroPoint proactively escalates and supports issues based on these alerts.
This document outlines the three Sensor Modes that WaterCompass devices transition through during their lifecycle:
- Detection Mode
- Relative Usage Mode
- Usage Mode
Each mode delivers different data granularity and services, as detailed below.
Detection Mode
Purpose
Used when the water meter is inactive at the time of installation, such as with:
- Winterized irrigation systems
- Fire suppression systems
- Compound meters (high-flow registers)
- Sites undergoing construction or landscaping
Functionality
- Devices report usage data in pulses, analogous to meter register rotations.
- Alerts are based on basic usage thresholds, even without calibration.
- Once enough flow data is collected, the device advances to Relative Usage Mode.
Available Metrics
- Relative Usage (Pulses)
User Benefits
- Notifications for High Hourly Usage
- Escalated support for High Hourly and Continuous Usage alerts
Learn more about Usage Metrics here.
Relative Usage Mode
Purpose
Activated when the meter is flowing, but more calibration readings are needed to convert pulse data into gallons accurately.
Functionality
- Usage is presented in pulses, with visibility into hourly flow patterns.
- Alert thresholds can now reflect normal site-specific usage trends, reducing false positives.
Available Metrics
- Relative Usage (Pulses)
User Benefits
- Hourly usage visibility via WaterCompass.net
- High Hourly and Continuous Usage alerts
- Ability to manually accelerate calibration by submitting additional meter readings
- Historical pulse data can be retroactively converted to gallons once full calibration is achieved
Learn more about Calibration Readings here.
Learn more about Usage Metrics here.
Usage Mode
Purpose
Reached once sufficient calibration readings allow accurate conversion from pulses to gallons. This is the ideal operational mode.
Functionality
- Full visibility into actual water consumption in gallons
- Enables advanced analytics and operational insights
Available Metrics
- Usage (Gallons)
- Cost ($) *
- Cost per kGal *
- Gallons per 1k Sq. Ft. *
- Cost per 1k Sq. Ft. *
* Requires user-provided water rate and/or site area
User Benefits
- Hourly water usage displayed in gallons on WaterCompass.net
- Full range of alert notifications and support escalations
- Cost estimation and benchmarking across meters or properties
- Normalized usage per square foot for operational efficiency
- Historical data enhancement (pulses converted to gallons)
Learn more about Calibration Readings here.
Learn more about Usage Metrics here.