eved. At the network level, innovative software provides the system with facilities to centrally control and manage any number of sanitary fittings.”

Markwell says that rather than having individual transformers for each water control, some water management systems operate from a central transformer for up to 64 fittings, which reduces power consumption as well as installation costs.

Franke Aquarotter, which is part of the Franke Group and based in Berlin, has developed the Aqua3000 Open water management system. Markwell says it is the latest generation of technology for the control, monitoring and disinfection flushing of water systems in commercial buildings.

“This system is built up of components that can work independently or be networked to provide the control and monitoring functions.

“It is being used successfully in numerous security installations and in airports where central control and monitoring of the faucets and flushing devices is required. The system is linked to the computer network of the building and can be monitored and controlled from a central location or remotely.

“Besides being able to set flow times of the different services – such as soap, air and water – the system can perform and record hygiene flushes and thermal disinfections, as well as having an alarm for malfunctioning fittings.”

In Australia, Enware has launched the Smartflow Water Management System, which is designed to provide total operational and water management control in penal institutions.

The system consists of a control panel with user interface in each cell to operate individual fixtures, flow control hubs, a central PC and Smartflow software.

The company’s Tim Fisher says the system, which operates on a 24-hour cycle, can control the supply of water to any fitting in any cell and can quickly isolate delivery of water to any fixture in a cell.

It can also enable isolation of a cell, cellblock or cellblock wing and is able to change any fixture timing individually or in groups, including run time and lockout periods.

“The control module for each flow control hub is the operating interface for all solenoid valves, controlling hand basin, shower and toilet with an operating relay for an exhaust fan,” Fisher says.

“Solenoid valves are activated by the control module for appropriate periods as specified by the software, and the control module can also provide an audible lockout signal to allow the user to hear when a lockout is in force.

“The primary role of the central control PC is to run the proprietary Smartflow software and communicate with the hardware on the network.

“All the flow control hubs in the system are controlled by the software and the PC can remotely program specified settings in a hub or override the operation of each water fixture controlled by the hub.

“In addition, the PC is able to collect data from the hub, thus providing a complete record of all fixture use and water consumption in the facility.

“In areas where there is multiple-person access, such as in communal shower environments, the Smartflow Pin Tag can recognize six users and log their consumption against their individual time account.

“With an initial focus on penal applications, the Smartflow Water Management System can also be adapted to all commercial facilities, providing enormous scope for the effective control, monitoring and management of all water-using fixtures.”

Also in Australia, the Water Conservation Group, which offers water-efficient design and build services for existing and new buildings and facilities, has developed a unique shower monitoring device.

Managing director Guenter Hauber-Davidson says the Shower Monitor is designed to influence user behavior.