METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING WATER USAGE

1 - 30 . (canceled)

31 . A method of retrofitting an existing water supply system, the method comprising:

identifying at least one water usage device in the existing water supply system suitable for retrofitting;

retrofitting each of the identified at least one water usage device with a new water usage device adapted to:

communicate water usage parameters of the existing water supply system when an elapsed time of a water usage event exceeds a preset limit, and

cease communicating water usage parameters after at least one of completion and interruption of the water usage event; and

thereafter operating the retrofitted water supply system.

32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the existing water supply system comprises at least one of a water supply source, a plurality of water supply lines, and a plurality of water delivery devices.

33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein communicating water usage parameters comprises using at least one transducer to communicate water usage parameters to a remote processor via a communication network.

34 . The method of claim 33 further comprising communicating at least one of historical maintenance issue data and historical maintenance repair data to the remote processor.

35 . The method of claim 31 further comprising correlating, ata remote processor, water usage data to at least one of historical maintenance issue data and historical maintenance repair data.

36 . The method of claim 31 further comprising receiving water usage parameter data from the at least one retrofitted water usage device.

37 . The method of claim 31 , wherein retrofitting the at least one water usage device with a new water usage device comprises providing a new water usage device comprising:

a memory for storing, during a water usage event, at least one of water usage, water flow rate, elapsed time of the water usage event, water pressure, and water temperature;

a display device for visually displaying, in real-time, at least one of water usage, water flow rate, the elapsed time of the water usage event, water pressure, and water temperature; and

a microprocessor for communicating, by at least one transducer via a communications network, water usage parameters of the retrofitted water supply system to the processing device.

38 . The method of claim 37 further comprising the at least one transducer entering a standby mode after at least one of completion and interruption of the water usage event.

39 . The method of claim 37 further comprising the at last one transducer transmitting water usage data to another microprocessor associated with another retrofitted water usage device disposed in a common area with the retrofitted water usage device.

40 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the new water usage device further comprises:

a first sensor for measuring, continuously and in real-time, a volumetric flow rate and providing measured volumetric flow rate data signals to the microprocessor for storage in the memory;

a second sensor for measuring the elapsed time of the water usage event and providing measured elapsed time data signals to the microprocessor for storage in the memory; and

a third sensor for measuring, continuously and in real-time, the water temperature and providing measured water temperature data signals to the microprocessor for storage in the memory.

41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the new water usage device further comprises:

a fourth sensor for measuring, continuously and in real-time, water pressure and providing measured water pressure data signals to the microprocessor for storage in the memory.

42 . The method of claim 37 further comprising enabling, via the microprocessor, a user to pre-set within the memory at least one of a water usage limit, an allowable time of water usage event, a water pressure limit, a flow rate limit, and a water temperature limit.

43 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the new water usage device further comprises:

a temperature measurement device;

a pressure measurement device;

at least one of a flow rate meter and a flow volume meter; and

a flow duration measurement device.

44 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising:

providing a plurality of edge routers with the retrofitted at least one water usage device; and

configuring each edge router to communicate with a plurality of retrofitted water usage devices.

45 . The method of claim 44 , wherein each of the plurality of edge routers is configured to communicate data from a corresponding plurality of retrofitted water usage devices to the processing device via the communication network.