Non-domestic water retailer, Wave, has partnered with Hive, a connected home provider to offer businesses “exclusive” water leak detection technology as part of their water tariff.
The wi-fi enabled device monitors water flow and can spot unusually high amounts of water flowing through a business property, according to the companies.
If a problem is detected, it will send a mobile alert, so customers can act quickly to resolve a potential leak.
The introduction of this “smart technology” to business water customers “complements” Wave’s commitment to driving water efficiency, the retailer said.
It aims to help businesses “stay one step ahead of leaks and avoid unnecessary costs.”
Lucy Darch, chief executive at Wave, said: “We have enjoyed working with Hive for some time and we are delighted to see this technology come to market as part of an exclusive offer for our customers.
“This is a first in the business water retail market. Our partnership with Hive allows our customers to benefit from our service-led approach, as well as the use of technology to avoid costly water damage, disruption and unnecessarily high bills.”
Claire Miles, Hive’s managing director, added: “This is our first partnership in the water industry and perfectly enables us to diversify our distribution of products, leading with our Hive ‘Leak’ sensor and our customers, by working with small businesses.
“Leak is designed to proactively detect leaks and notify customers of unusual flows, so this helps prevent a drip becoming a far bigger problem. With Wave, we’re hoping to lay solid foundations for future partnerships within the water industry.”
Wave was formed through a joint venture between Anglian Water Business and NWG Business following the deregulation of the English water market in April 2017.
Hive, which started in 2013, supplies a “family of smart devices” to help manage home energy consumption. Its parent company Centrica has invested £500 million to grow its range and geographical market.
The total number of Hive connected home customers has reached one million with more than two million products sold worldwide.
A recent disrupting utilities survey by consultants PwC, revealed ownership of smart devices has more than doubled in the last two years. Households are expected to spend £10.8 billion on smart tech in 2019.