Sound Waves: Unlocking the Secrets of Water’s Journey
When we think of water, we often focus on its physical properties – its clarity, temperature, and perhaps even its taste. But what if there was more to the story? What if the sound of water could tell us something about where it’s going?
“The whistles and hums that water makes along its downward journey may seem unremarkable. But they’re bits of a unique sound signature that, using the right algorithms and hardware, can be detected and categorized for preventative maintenance purposes.”
Acoustic detection, as it’s called, is not a new science. Water authorities and utilities have been using acoustic sensors to find leaks and signs of wear and tear for years. However, recent advancements in technology have allowed for this method to be applied in new and innovative ways.
“Within the past decade or so, an emerging cohort of startups has put interesting twists on the old tech, applying acoustic water detection in novel ways – and places.”
One such startup, Conservation Labs, has created a water-listening sensor that can be attached to plumbing in residential, multi-family, and office properties. Using an algorithm trained on water acoustics, the sensor is able to translate sounds from the pipes into usage statistics, leak alerts, and even conservation recommendations.
“The sensors can monitor individual units or entire buildings, providing remote visibility,” explains Mark Kovscek, founder and CEO of Conservation Labs. “There are several indirect competitors that identify leaks or monitor whole-building consumption. But Conservation Labs’ technology is differentiated in that it both detects leaks and monitors water usage for any building and pipe.”
Kovscek, who holds a degree in applied mathematics and industrial management from Carnegie Mellon, was inspired to launch Conservation Labs after personally experiencing a few damaging leaks in his own home. He searched for a product that could monitor leaks and water usage, but was unable to find one that met his needs.
“After the [leaks], I looked around for a product that could monitor leaks and other water usage, but wasn’t able to find one that created value,” Kovscek said. “I realized that sound waves could be indicative of what was going on in the pipes, developed a prototype and filed a patent in 2016.”
Today, Conservation Labs offers both the sensors and a subscription to a cloud-based monitoring service. The sensors are priced at $129 each, with the subscription costing $36 per sensor per year. Kovscek claims that users typically see a 20% reduction in water usage after installing the sensors.
However, as with many AI- and algorithm-driven products, it is difficult to accurately determine the effectiveness without extensive testing. Factors such as the volume of water being monitored and the material of the pipes can affect sensor readings, and unintentional bias could be introduced depending on the sounds and number of data points used to train the algorithms.
But Kovscek assures that Conservation has a “rigorous” approach to development and testing of its algorithms to ensure accuracy.
“General acoustic models are created with thousands of hours of data and then sensor-specific models are generated based on the unique environment of the sensor and the unique audio profile of the monitored object,” Kovscek adds. “As the platform matures and adds new use cases, it becomes more intelligent, faster and even more extensible to new use cases.”
Conservation has found success in their niche market, with a customer base of around 150 companies and reaching “seven digit” annual recurring revenue in 2023. Seeking to diversify their offerings, the startup recently launched a new acoustic sensor line that monitors industrial machines for signs of damage and other issues.
Beyond Conservation Labs, other startups such as Noiseless Acoustics and OneWatt are also using AI-powered sensors to better understand the patterns of industrial equipment. These sensors can also be applied to identify leaks in gas and oil pipelines.
“Conservation’s platform can not only identify if a machine is malfunctioning, but identify the reason for the malfunction (e.g., is it the motor belt, motor bearing, is the machine unbalanced, etc.),” Kovscek said. “All of this is accomplished with a single sensor that uses a low-cost microphone.”
With a total of $9.5 million in venture capital, Conservation has ambitious plans for the future. These include releasing the second generation of their water monitoring sensor, expanding their AI platform, and increasing sales and marketing efforts. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company also plans to hire 8 more employees by the end of the year, growing their team from 22 to 30.
“In sustainability, there’s a number of tailwinds, including a drive for more efficient operations, federal funding for climate and energy investment, regulations to encourage water and energy monitoring, increasing water rates and consumer interest in eco-friendly brands,” Kovscek noted. “We’re focused on looking ahead – this Series A is a testament to the resiliency of our offering, regardless of what’s happening in the broader market.”
