Stop the Drip: Identifying and Fixing Leaks Inside and Outside Your Property

Every year, millions of gallons of water are lost due to undetected leaks, causing significant
financial and environmental damage. Research from Astute Analytica suggests that over 20% of
the world’s treated water is lost through leaks. Whether inside a building or across an outdoor
irrigation system, leaks can go unnoticed for months, leading to excessive water waste, property
damage, and skyrocketing utility costs. Identifying and fixing leaks isn’t just about saving
money—it’s about sustainability, efficiency, and preventing disasters before they happen.

The True Impact of Water Leaks

A small, slow leak may seem insignificant, but over time, even a minor issue can lead to
devastating consequences. Consider this:

A single leaking toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water per day.
A slow-dripping faucet can waste over 3,000 gallons of water annually.
A leak in an underground irrigation pipe can remain undetected for months, leading to significant water waste, increased utility costs, landscape damage, and structural issues. These leaks are often invisible but can result in thousands of dollars in unnecessary expenses and plant loss if left unaddressed.

Beyond financial costs, leaks contribute to global water scarcity, making water stewardship a
critical responsibility for businesses, municipalities, and property managers. Implementing
proactive leak detection not only prevents excessive waste but also empowers organizations to
address water blindness, gaining real-time visibility into their consumption and taking
meaningful action toward sustainability.

WaterCompass: Detect Leaks Before They Become Disasters

WaterCompass is a powerful solution that provides continuous water use analytics and leak
detection for indoor and outdoor environments. Unlike traditional reactive methods,
WaterCompass actively monitors water flow and alerts users to potential leaks before they
escalate into major issues.

Common Indoor Leak Locations

WaterCompass has identified several high-risk indoor areas where leaks frequently occur:

Restrooms: Toilets, urinals, and faucets often develop slow leaks that go unnoticed.
Breakrooms and Ice Machines: Small leaks in supply lines and fittings can silently waste thousands of gallons over time.
Fire Riser Rooms & Pump Rooms: Slow leaks in these critical systems can lead to significant water loss, reduced system efficiency, and compliance issues.
Cooling Towers & Boilers: Faulty makeup valves and float valves can cause continuous water loss, driving up utility bills and undermining sustainability efforts.

Signs of Outdoor Leaks

For properties with irrigation systems, leaks can be particularly costly and difficult to detect.
WaterCompass has identified several telltale signs that may indicate a hidden leak:

Unexpectedly High Water Bills: A sudden spike in water costs without increased usage can signal a hidden leak.
Overgrown or Lush Vegetation: Unusually green patches in a landscape may indicate an underground leak.
Wet or Cracked Pavement: Signs of pooling water or sinkholes can mean a major leak beneath the surface.
Malfunctioning Backflow Devices & Sprinkler Heads: Equipment failures can result in continuous leaks, wasting water without immediate detection.
Unexpected Water Loss from Small Leaks: Even tiny leaks in irrigation valves and pipes can have massive consequences. A leak just 1/32nd of an inch in diameter—about the thickness of a dime—can waste 6,300 gallons of water per month. These leaks, often hidden underground, silently drive up water bills, damage landscapes, and weaken infrastructure. Undetected, they contribute to significant financial losses and undermine an organization’s water stewardship goals. Keeping a close watch on irrigation systems and employing flow monitoring solutions is essential to preventing these costly issues.

The Importance of Flow Monitoring in Irrigation Systems

Water is a valuable resource, and preventing outdoor water waste is just as crucial as
addressing indoor leaks. But many organizations overlook the significant water loss caused by
undetected irrigation issues.

The key to tackling indoor and outdoor water waste is flow monitoring.

By installing flow sensors in an irrigation system, organizations gain real-time visibility into water
usage, allowing them to detect leaks the moment they occur. HydroPoint’s WeatherTRAK and
Baseline irrigation controllers integrate seamlessly with flow sensors, providing instant alerts
when irregular water use is detected. This proactive approach not only prevents excessive
water loss but also reduces maintenance costs—delivering a return on investment in under a
year.

Take Action: Find Leaks Before They Become Costly Problems

March is an important month for water conservation, with Fix a Leak Week and World Water
Day bringing attention to the importance of reducing water waste. Organizations and property
managers should use this time to assess their water management strategies and implement
smart solutions like WaterCompass and flow sensors.

Prevent Leaks, Preserve Water, and Strengthen Sustainability

Water waste isn’t just a financial concern—it’s a threat to environmental sustainability. Leaks
deplete valuable resources, increase operational costs, and put unnecessary strain on
ecosystems. By investing in real-time leak detection and flow monitoring, organizations can
proactively manage water usage, ensuring efficiency, conservation, and a lasting positive
impact on the environment.

Start Your Leak Detection Strategy Today

Find and fix leaks before they become costly problems. Learn more about how WaterCompass
and HydroPoint’s flow monitoring solutions can help you take control of water waste.