Patent ID: 8606413

Claim:
A water management system adapted for use with a supply line from a water source to a point of use, the system comprising: at least one electrically operated valve located in the supply line, each said electrically operated valve having a water inlet and a water outlet to a zone controlled by the electrically operated valve, said zone having one or more points of use, each said electrically operated valve having a shut-off valve member and a metering valve member, the metering valve member having at least one bypass passageway in a form of tell-tale groove to enable a water flow through the metering valve member when the metering valve member is in a fully closed position, and each said valve is capable of allowing a number of different flow rates from a fully shut off position to fully open position including also a sensing position with a minimal flow rate; each electrically operated valve having a pressure sensor located in the electrically operated valve or downstream of the electrically operated valve outlet to detect pressure of the water in the zone supplied by the valve; each electrically operated valve having a flow sensor located in the electrically operated valve or downstream of the electrically operated valve outlet to measure a flow rate of water flowing in the zone supplied by the electrically operated valve; a controller interfaced to at least one of said pressure sensors, at least one of said flow sensors and at least one of said electrically operated valves, the controller being operative to terminate or change the flow of water to a zone or point of use in the event that (a) the flow rate exceeds a maximum allowed value, or (b) total flow exceeds a maximum allowed quota, or (c) a pressure change is detected in the supply line.