Today’s plumbing systems need to be as efficient as possible, making water conservation a key consideration that is essential to future-proofing systems. We know that innovations such as PRVs and flow regulation valves can strengthen systems and promote water efficiency, but there is a familiar challenge that may still stand in the way of truly efficient systems – leaks.

Leaks are one of the leading causes of property damage – at least where plumbing and heating is concerned. Alongside damage to property – which sees insurance companies pay out around £1.8 million every day, according to the Association of British Insurers, leaks also have an environmental impact and create an obstacle to achieving broader sustainability goals.

Affinity Water estimates that 900 million litres of water are lost every day to leaks, which is enough to meet the needs of around one million people for a week. But it’s not just leaks that need to be considered – even dripping taps can see up to 90 litres of water lost over the course of a month.

So, how can we solve the problem of leaks to improve water conservation?

Alongside innovations like push-fit connections that feature within the JG Speedfit range of pipes and fittings, technology has a role to play. The MultiSafe Leak Detector from Reliance Valves is helping to minimise the impact of leaks by supporting early detection and swift action.

As most domestic leaks occur within pipework, and mainly at connection points which are largely out of sight, they can go undetected for long periods of time. As the data demonstrates, this can see huge amounts of water lost over time.

To detect these leaks as early as possible, the smart MultiSafe system actively monitors water consumption within a property by constantly measuring water flow rate, pressure, temperature, and hardness. A regular micro-leakage monitoring function even detects small changes, preventing smaller leaks from creating bigger challenges down the line.

The system doesn’t stop at measurement, though. When it identifies unusually high water usage, the system automatically shuts off the water supply. This is made possible through an in-built isolation valve which, once activated in the event of a leak, will also send an alert to the homeowner.

Like many devices that support efficiency in today’s homes, the MultiSafe Leak Detector doesn’t just work in the background. It also supports smart functionality for users.

Once connected to the Reliance Valves MultiSafe app, users can remotely control and modify the device’s detection control valve, as well as view statistics on their water usage. Much like a smart meter for energy usage, the app puts homeowners in control of their usage, helping them to manage consumption and conserve water over the long term.

Find out how RWC, through its family of brands including JG Speedfit and Reliance Valves, are supporting improved home efficiency at www.rwc.com/uk