Jargon Buster
Welcome to the Watergate Jargon Buster!
The world of smart water management, Proptech, and IoT is packed with technical terms and acronyms that can leave even the savviest professional puzzled. That’s where our Jargon Buster comes in. Whether you’re a property manager, a landlord, or just curious about sustainability and leak detection technologies, this guide breaks down complex concepts into plain English. Explore key terms related to water efficiency, smart home integration, and ESG reporting—all tailored to help you understand how modern innovations like smart water systems are transforming properties.
Water Management & Plumbing
Emergency Shut-Off Valve: A manual or automated valve that stops water flow when a system detects abnormal usage or a leak.
Flow Direction: The intended path water takes through a system. Correct flow alignment is critical for devices like valves or meters to work properly.
Freshwater: Water from natural sources (like rivers or reservoirs) that’s treated to be safe for human use. Essential for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.
Nightly Diagnostic Test: A routine process where water systems are checked for pressure stability to detect micro-leaks or flow anomalies.
Pipe Thread Type (BSP Parallel): A British Standard Pipe thread with a parallel form, used in plumbing to create a watertight seal.
Point Leak Sensor: A device placed at specific locations to detect leaks. These are commonly used under sinks or near appliances prone to leakage.
Potable Water: Water that is safe for drinking and general household use, meeting public health standards.
Pressure Decay: A gradual drop in pressure within a closed water system, often caused by leaks. It’s commonly used in diagnostic tests to identify hidden issues.
Stopcock: A valve that shuts off the water supply to a property. It’s crucial during maintenance or in emergencies to prevent flooding.
Smart Tech & IoT
AI (Artificial Intelligence): The simulation of human intelligence in machines, enabling them to perform tasks like learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. In water management, AI can analyze water usage patterns, detect anomalies (like leaks), and predict maintenance needs before issues escalate. Watergate’s Sonic leverages AI to monitor flow rates and detect even the smallest irregularities, offering smarter and more efficient water management.
API (Application Programming Interface): A set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. Watergate’s API lets property management systems or third-party apps connect with Sonic for data retrieval, control, and monitoring—like integrating leak alerts into a building management dashboard.
Automated Shut-Off: A system feature where water flow is automatically stopped upon detecting anomalies like high flow or leaks.
Companion App: A mobile or web application that interfaces with smart devices, allowing users to monitor performance, receive alerts, and control systems remotely.
Digital Twin: A virtual replica of a physical system or process, used for real-time monitoring and analysis. In water management, a digital twin can simulate water flow, usage, and system behaviour. Watergate’s platform creates its own digital twin for properties with Sonic installed, providing a detailed overview of plumbing infrastructure.
Energy Harvesting: The process of capturing and storing small amounts of energy from natural or ambient sources (like sunlight or vibrations). While less common in water management devices, it’s a growing trend in IoT to power low-energy sensors sustainably.
Firmware: Permanent software programmed into a device’s hardware, enabling it to perform essential functions. Firmware updates improve performance, fix bugs, or add features. For example, Sonic’s firmware ensures it detects leaks accurately and integrates smoothly with connected systems.
IoT (Internet of Things): A network of interconnected devices that collect and share data, enabling smarter systems. In water management, this includes leak sensors, smart valves, and water meters.
OTA (Over-the-Air Updates): The wireless delivery of software, firmware, or configuration changes to a device. OTA updates are crucial for keeping IoT devices like Sonic up to date with the latest features, security patches, and performance improvements—without needing manual intervention or on-site servicing.
Predictive Maintenance: Using data from sensors or devices to predict when equipment will need servicing, preventing failures before they occur.
SDK (Software Development Kit): A set of tools, libraries, and documentation provided by a company to help developers create software for their platform or device. In the context of Watergate, an SDK could allow developers to build custom integrations or applications that work with Sonic’s smart water management system.
Smart Water Metering: Technology that measures and reports water consumption in real-time, providing insights for users to optimise their water usage.
Property & Real Estate
BTR (Build-to-Rent): Large-scale rental properties professionally managed and aimed at long-term tenants. Sonic’s monitoring helps reduce operational costs in these setups.
M&E (Mechanical and Electrical) Consultants: Specialists in designing building services, including plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems. They evaluate solutions like Sonic for efficiency and compliance.
PBSA (Purpose-Built Student Accommodation): Residential developments designed exclusively for students, often managed centrally with features like smart utilities and water monitoring.
Proptech (Property Technology): Technology designed to improve the way properties are bought, sold, managed, or maintained. This includes systems like Sonic, which enhance property management by monitoring water usage and preventing damage.
PRS (Private Rented Sector): Properties rented out by private landlords or companies. Water management tech like leak detection systems help landlords reduce repair costs.
Retrofit: The process of adding new technology, such as smart water systems, to older buildings without extensive rebuilding.
Insurance & Risk Management
Claims Reduction: Strategies to minimise the frequency and severity of insurance claims, often through preventative measures like leak detection systems.
Escape of Water: Insurance terminology for accidental water leaks or bursts that cause property damage, typically one of the most expensive claims categories.
Excess (Deductible): The portion of a claim that the policyholder must pay out of pocket before insurance coverage applies.
Premium: The amount paid to an insurance company for coverage. Installing leak detection systems can sometimes lead to reduced premiums.
Sustainability & ESG
BREEAM: A global standard for assessing a building’s environmental performance, focusing on sustainability and resource efficiency. Technologies like Sonic can contribute to achieving higher BREEAM scores.
Carbon Footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases produced directly and indirectly by an individual, organisation, or product. Efficient water management, like preventing leaks, reduces the energy required for pumping, treating, and heating water, thus lowering the carbon footprint.
CO2e (Carbon Dioxide Equivalent): A metric that expresses the impact of various greenhouse gases in terms of the amount of CO2 they’re equivalent to in terms of warming potential. Reducing water waste with smart systems like Sonic indirectly lowers CO2e emissions by conserving energy used in water treatment and heating.
GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark): A benchmarking system evaluating ESG performance in real estate portfolios. Efficient water management positively impacts scores.
Greywater Harvesting: The process of collecting and reusing lightly used water (from sinks, showers, or washing machines) for non-potable uses like irrigation or flushing toilets. It’s an important sustainability practice in modern building design.
Net-Zero: Achieving a balance between greenhouse gases emitted and removed. Efficient water systems help reduce energy use, contributing to net-zero goals.
Water Footprint: The total volume of freshwater used directly and indirectly by an individual, organisation, or property.
Water Sustainability: Managing water resources to ensure long-term availability while reducing waste. Smart systems like leak detection play a crucial role.
Regulations & Standards
CE Mark: Indicates compliance with EU regulations for health, safety, and environmental standards.
WEEE Directive (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment): EU legislation mandating the recycling and proper disposal of electronic devices.
WRAS (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme): Certification ensuring that plumbing products comply with UK water safety and hygiene standards.
Technical Terms Relevant to Sonic
Baseline Usage: The minimum expected water flow in a property during inactive periods, used as a reference to detect anomalies.
Centralised Dashboard: A single interface for managing and monitoring water systems across multiple properties, providing real-time alerts and reports.
Flow Rate: The volume of water moving through a system, typically measured in liters per minute. Deviations can signal leaks or inefficiencies.
Leak Profiling: Analysing patterns of water loss to differentiate between types of leaks (e.g., slow drips vs. catastrophic failures).
Pressure Decay Test: A method for identifying leaks by observing pressure drops in a system when all fixtures are closed. Sonic automates this nightly for large properties.
Ultrasonic Flow Measurement: A technique using sound waves to measure water flow rates without direct contact. This allows high precision in detecting leaks or anomalies.
Industry-Wide Terms Frequently Asked
Greywater: Lightly used water from showers, sinks, or washing machines that can be recycled for non-drinking purposes like irrigation.
Legionella Risk Management: Practices to prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria, which can thrive in poorly maintained water systems.
Smart Building: A property equipped with advanced systems like IoT, automation, and sustainability tech to optimise operations and reduce resource use.
Water Sub-Metering: Installing individual meters in multi-unit properties to track water usage per tenant or unit.