Investigating water pressure in the plumbing systems of Victorian houses

What we are doing and why

Well-functioning plumbing systems are crucial for comfort, hygiene and safety in homes. Leaks and burst pipes can create serious health risks and financial problems for residents and homeowners. Maintaining plumbing systems can help prevent leaks, blockages and other issues.

The BPC is supporting research by Deakin University through a research grant awarded in 2024. The research will explore how pressure monitoring, combined with machine learning and artificial intelligence-driven data analysis, could be used to create smart plumbing systems that support the early detection of problems in residential plumbing systems in Class 1 buildings.

Current technologies, such as digital water meters, can detect ongoing leaks by monitoring water flow. However, they cannot predict when pipes may begin to deteriorate or fail. Monitoring pressure changes at a high sampling rate, known as transient pressure monitoring, can provide more detailed information.

In large-scale water distribution networks, detecting and analysing pressure changes in pipes helps monitor their condition in real time. This supports proactive maintenance, which can reduce water loss and maintenance costs.

Residents and homeowners may not be aware of pressure-related problems in their plumbing systems and often rely on visual checks and occasional maintenance to identify or prevent issues. Greater awareness of pressure conditions could help them identify and address problems before they become major and potentially expensive failures, such as leaks or burst pipes.

The research will collect household-level data using smart water sensors installed in participating homes. These sensors will collect detailed pressure data from residential plumbing systems.

Researchers will analyse the data using artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop algorithms that can identify when different water fixtures are used and learn what normal system behaviour looks like.

The research aims to improve understanding of pressure conditions in residential plumbing systems and support the development of future smart plumbing systems.

The findings could inform educational materials and industry guidance. They may also help hydraulic designers and plumbers make better design and construction decisions to reduce the risk of plumbing component failures.

Smart plumbing systems could benefit residents and homeowners by alerting them to potential plumbing problems before they become major and expensive failures.

Deakin University’s Dr James Gong, Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering, is leading the research.

Participation in the research

Deakin University’s research team is seeking 10 to 20 detached residential homes in the Melbourne and Geelong areas to participate in the research over a 12-month period from May 2025.

For more information or to register your interest, visit the Smart Plumbing research participation website.

What we have achieved so far

The research commenced in November 2024 and is due for completion in 2026. It complements other research supported or conducted by the BPC to reduce harms arising from moisture ingress and water damage, including:

• Examining moisture-related disputes in Victorian residential buildings by Restoration Industry Consultants in partnership with BPC Dispute Resolution.
• Investigation of water leakage in residential concrete balconies by Swinburne University of Technology, supported by the BPC through a research grant awarded in 2022.
• Improving building envelope resilience to moisture damage by the University of Sydney, supported by the BPC through a research grant awarded in 2022.
• Assessment of mould growth risk in regulatory-compliant 6 and 7 Star new homes in Victoria by the University of Tasmania, supported by the BPC through a research grant awarded in 2021.