Greystar has discovered major financial, operational, and environmental benefits by implementing an innovative smart water system in its purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) portfolio in London.
The Watergate system revealed enormous opportunities for Greystar’s water management. Following an initial pilot, the technology was rolled out across three PBSA buildings at Greystar’s Chapter Islington PBSA scheme, covering 684 apartments and communal spaces in mid 2024.
Heat maps within the dashboard give a real-time view of water use, temperature and pressure and quickly identify anomalies.
At the heart of this transformation is Sonic, Watergate’s smart water valve. Sonic continuously monitors water flow, temperature and pressure in real time, alerting users to potential leaks or inefficiencies. If a significant issue is detected, Sonic’s automatic shut-off feature can immediately halt water flow, preventing damage and costly repairs.
Issues identified
- Insights gathered during the project enabled Greystar to address issues promptly, avoiding significant water waste and operational risks and now empowers them to tackle any new risks proactively:
- Widespread inefficiencies: 22% of units (a mixture of rooms and studio apartments) were consuming significantly more water than expected, often due to hidden issues like leaky taps or toilets.
- Pressure imbalances: Incorrectly configured pressure-reducing valves were identified, with some set too high (above 4bar), causing unnecessary wear on appliances, while others were set too low, leading to dissatisfaction from residents.
- Extreme cases: One apartment was using up to 11,600 litres of water daily, 232 times more than the expected amount (the expected cold water consumption of a single occupancy studio is 50L per day), due to a stuck toilet flush.
- Temperature issues: Hot water systems were running excessively high, wasting energy, while cold water systems were at risk of Legionella due to improper pipe proximity.
Results
By integrating the Sonic smart water system, Greystar achieved a range of impressive results that highlight the system’s effectiveness and value:
- Water efficiency savings: Identified 2,042,173 litres per month of potential water reduction savings. Within just one month of identifying inefficiencies, Greystar implemented targeted repairs that have already saved nearly one million litres of water per month.
- Financial savings: Identified direct annual savings of £111,522: £87,977 from water bills. With a high insurance excess, Greystar has reduced their financial exposure by an estimated £23,546 per annum, with an additional potential premium reduction going forward. Additional energy savings from using less hot water are likely but, as yet, unquantified.
- Operational efficiency: Proactive maintenance reduced disruptions and enhanced resident satisfaction.
- Carbon footprint reduction: Cutting water consumption by two million litres per month will avoid 26 tonnes of CO2e annually.
“We’ve been incredibly impressed with Watergate Sonic’s performance and reliability, and it has already identified and prevented several leaks. It is revolutionising the way I manage and protect our assets and has given me peace of mind. The precision of the leak detection is exceptional, capable of identifying even the smallest leaks that would typically go unnoticed until significant damage occurs.
“Its automatic shut-off valve sets it apart from other similar products on the market—the moment a leak is detected, the valve immediately shuts off the water supply, minimising the risk of damage. It also supports our wider ESG commitment to reducing on-site water usage and increasing water efficiency across our operations.”
Mandisa Khabo, Technical Director/International Development and
Operations, Greystar
Future for Greystar
Greystar’s adoption of smart water management technology isn’t just about immediate savings – it’s a long-term investment in resilience and sustainability.
By prioritising smart water management, Greystar is cementing its position as a forward-thinking leader in the real estate sector, with Watergate now an important part of its smart building strategy designed to navigate challenges like water scarcity and rising operational costs.
Having executed the first three buildings, Greystar is now extremely well positioned to make multi-million pound savings across their portfolio with Watergate.
