Monitoring water use with Internet-connected sensors with Lotik...
Ryan Darby, VP of Business Development for Lotik, (a smart system of wireless sensors providing "point-of-use" water monitoring to track usage and detect leaks) joins Thomas Kutzman and guest host Marc Raco in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. Presented by Prevu.
In this episode:

Darby discusses how the water problem is a threefold one: cost from an operations standpoint, how the cost of water has gone up dramatically in last fifteen years, and that to control a utility like water, you need information and granular info. In New York City, there is only a single meter on the main from the utility and that’s all you know
If one has a leak one doesn’t know where (or that) it is occurring initially
Lotik is creating transparency, with no plumber or tools required
Quick calibration at setup, scanning barcode, enter meta data, and connecting to a mobile app
How the New York City water board uses most funds to maintain and upgrade the distribution systems, and this is similar across the country, and often a rate increase is because of population increase
Lotik has a focus on multifamily and large commercial buildings
In addition to the operating side of the equation, potential property damage can be avoided, which benefits both the tenant and building owner
Turning plumbing fixtures into Internet connected devices, as part of Internet of Things
Bringing fixtures to life, and connecting one’s toilet and sink to the Internet
Conveying a message of social responsibility to battle privacy concerns
Finding ways to aggregate data to make it a little less granular in respect for privacy
Avoiding sabotaging of data
Using accelerometers, learned what the signature of a toilet flushing or a shower turning on is
Potential to interact with platforms on both sides (tenants and landlords)
Looking at low flow movement in pipes, and thus early detection of leaks
Utilization of a communication protocol called LoRA
The genesis of the company based in water transparency, and how Samsung brought the cofounders into an accelerator program
Getting the word out, working with groups like Samsung and Totem Brooklyn, driving demand with building owners
A presence in mostly major urban areas on the Eastern seaboard, and the opportunity for the Bay Area and Seattle have high water costs, and where LoRA networks already exist
How Darby’s life transformed with meditation