UK water meter and shutoff valve

Hardware
1

Hi all I’m looking for a water meter and shutoff valve to monitor usage and allow me to automatically shut off supply. Requirements are…

  1. Integrate with Home Assistant (Naturally :))
  2. Compatible with UK plumbing. I don’t mind if it needs plumber installation.
  3. Measure accurate consumption values that can be used with energy dashboard.
  4. Allow automatic shutoff (Not critical but preferred)
  5. Local control (No cloud API)

It looks like the Moen Flo is ideal hardware wise but the cloud requirement (and price) puts me off.

For water metering only I considered going the ESPcam approach to read the existing utility company meter dials but unfortunately the meter is some distance from the house in the underground utility provider duct and wiring to it will not be easily possible.

Thanks!

2

If you are fine going the DIY route, then use a water flow sensor hooked up to an ESP32. (Using ESPhome to build a water flow rate meter)

As for water shut off, there is this thread Automatic/Motorized Water Shut Off Valves

For the shut off you can search for ‘Electric Solenoid Valve’ but do pay attention to the Voltage they require.

2 Likes
3

If you’re using Zigbee and have a decent mesh going in the area where you’d like to install it, support for a water meter/valve device meeting all your requirements has just been added in Z2M’s latest release. It’s available from Zemismart, who mention it’s also compatible with ZHA in the second pic.

I had to pass on it because installation requirements are too restrictive for my situation. Also, the fact that it’s battery powered had me worried a bit, but it seems the water flow recharges the battery (at least this Amazon listing says it’s hydraulic powered).

3 Likes
4

Thanks all. I think I’m going to take the DIY route and use it as a good excuse to do my first ESPHome project.

Looks like this water flow sensor should do the job https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07DM26X87/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=AIF4G7PLKBOZY&psc=1

I’m going to shelve the auto cutoff valve idea for now.

1 Like
5

Any update with this?

6

Yep, I used the water flow sensor above mounted just after the stop cock and 3d printed a case for the esp32.

Still need to make sure it’s calibrated well against the utility company meter but seems to be giving plausible readings so far.

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IMG_0540
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sensor:
  - platform: pulse_counter
    pin: GPIO25
    name: "Flow rate"
    id: flow_rate
    unit_of_measurement: "L/hr"
    update_interval: 5s
    accuracy_decimals: 3
    filters:
      - lambda: return (x / 596.0) * 60.0;

  - platform: integration
    name: "Water Used"
    sensor: flow_rate
    time_unit: h
    unit_of_measurement: "L"
    accuracy_decimals: 3
    device_class: water
    state_class: total_increasing
    restore: true
4 Likes
7

Very nice. I am looking for a hall effect solution mainly for leak detection:

@zemismart Any update with this please? I would like to have access to all the sensory information, mainly leak detection!

Thanks

8

Why hall effect for leak detection?
Then you have to exclude zemismart since it uses ultrasonic…

9

Sorry, my bad. I meant “ultrasonic”.

I am considering this:

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But can I get all the sensory information off it?

10

Quite likely, it’s zigbee and zemismart states compatibility with HA.
Contact them and ask.

ps. ask also NSF/ANSI 61 certification for Drinking Water System Components

11

I have sent them messages. I am just waiting on them.

12

Watch out if you intend to get that. Judging by the pics you posted earlier, you might not have the necessary clearance to install it properly. EDIT: those weren’t your pics, sorry.

Their Installation Requirements mention a straight run of 10x pipe length on the inlet and 5x pipe length on the outlet. I’m not really sure what exactly they’re referring to for the multiplier. Is it 10x the pipe width? The meter length? Your shoe size?

I would also ask them to clarify what they mean about that in your message. Eg. In their own doc, M1 matches their installation description (inlet length looks sufficient), but M2 doesn’t (inlet length looks quite short compared to the outlet).

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1 Like
13

and M3 is identic with M2…

“10 times the length of straight pipe should…”
We need to determine how long is “straight pipe”. :joy:

14

100% this. M2, M3 & M4 are installed in exactly the same manner, yet one is ok while the remaining two are bad. So bloody confusing.

15

I have contacted them. Still nothing!!!

So where do we go from here?

16

Well, that’s entirely up to you.

If you think you have a decent enough section of straight pipe where the installation requirements don’t really affect you, go for it. Otherwise, keep waiting for a reply before dropping >100 bucks on something which won’t work in your situation.

17

Or is there an alternative that work well with HA.

Thanks

18

M1 and M2 have no chance of bubbles. M3(top) and M4(left) do not have any back-pressure to keep the system ‘Primed’. It’s in the manual on the following page (18) from that diagram on page 17 (https://manuals.plus/m/b8260858493f09c52f927573c748e0396ad9ac8940f9e152dd2cb26e702eb6ca_optim.pdf)

Quote:
-The installation shown in M-1 is correct, the meter is mounted low in the pipe, there is back pressure at the back end of the meter, and no air bubbles are generated that would affect the accuracy of the measurement, this is a horizontal installation.
-The installation shown in M-2 is correct, and this mounting position also does not generate air bubbles for the same reason as A. This figure shows a vertical installation.
-The installation shown in M-3 is incorrect, as the meter is mounted high in the pipe, where air bubbles tend to accumulate and affect measurement accuracy.
-The installation shown in M-4 is incorrect. This installation is a vertical installation with a downward water inlet, which is not allowed.

1 Like
19

It is a multiple of the pipe diameter. So, 1" pipe would mean 5" on outlet, 10" on inlet; 3/4" pipe would be 3 3/4" on outlet and 7.5" on inlet.

1 Like
20

I have just ordered the Zemismart one, may be a couple of months before it can be installed.
We have a private water borehole and no current way to measure consumption.

When they come to service the filtration system, I will get them to install the meter.

I have to assume the multiples before and after are to do with the pipe diameter, I can’t see what else it could be.