Patent ID: 7970715

Claim:
An electronic system for monitoring and controlling the use of water by a customer, said system comprising: a water inlet for receiving an amount of water from a water source; a water outlet for supplying water from said water inlet to a customer and a control valve including a flow meter between said water inlet and said water outlet; means including a vertical component for limiting the amount of water to be dispensed to a pre-selected customer during a first pre-selected period of time; a monitor for indicating the amount of water used by the pre-selected customer during the first pre-selected period of time; means for closing said control valve when the amount of water indicated by the monitor exceeds the limited amount of water during a first period of time and for opening the control valve when the first period of time has elapsed; a water tank into which water can be pumped into said tank during off peak periods and then when water is shut off, there is sufficient water to provide for an emergency; means including the central computer for limiting the amount of water to be dispersed to a customer during a second pre-selected scheduled period of time; means for closing said central valve when the amount of water indicated by the monitor equals the limited amount of water during the second period of time and for opening the central valve when the said period of time has lapsed; a smart card and means including the smart card for overriding the limitation and means which includes means including an aerial for providing wireless communication between the water counter and the central computer; and wherein the smart card and control valve have matching barcodes so that a single smart card will activate only a single control valve.