A new study anticipates that the number of U.S. households that find water bills unaffordable would triple from 11.9 percent to 35.6 percent in 2022.
The Buoy, a new device designed to address the rising water bill costs across the U.S., connects to Wi-Fi and to a home's water line, tracking and providing real-time solutions to curb usage. Utility companies have been struggling with the cost of replacing older infrastructure, and frequent droughts. Higher water bills acutely affect cities with declining populations, reports The Fast Company.
If there’s a leak, an app connected to the system gives the homeowner the option to shut off water remotely and call a plumber. If the system identifies that a large amount of water goes to a certain activity–such as watering a lawn–it can also help someone identify where to make strategic changes.