A smart watch can tell the user the time but a really smart watch can gauge home water use. The information needed to monitor and curb residential water consumption is provided by a smart sensor developed by California-based startup Nudge Systems. The Pleco smart water watch generates real-time accurate trends about how much water a home or business is using.The sensor attaches to a water meter and sends water usage data in near real time to the display. Source: Nudge Systems

The system includes a battery housing/transmitter hard-wired to the sensor, a display unit and an iOS/Android app. When attached to an existing water meter via an integrated strap, the sensor sends data to the battery housing, which in turn wirelessly transmits to the display unit. The home Wi-Fi network is then tapped to relay the data to the cloud for analysis, with processed results displayed on the app.

The device detects leaks early, preventing water damage and avoiding expensive repairs. Water use is also reported by categories including faucet, shower, toilet and irrigation.