Aqare
Aquare: The Water Saving Assistant
Meet Aqare, the IOT system that helps you track your shower water consumption and save the planet by lowering your useage.
This project was completed by Braeden Wong, Eli Marcus, and Sam Bruce.
Motivation
Water is a basic building block for life—everyone needs access to potable water. However, with the changing climate, water access is quickly becoming an increasingly pressing issue. We see the impacts of climate change on water access in cities like Cape Town or even more closely in California. As California natives, we grew up living through such extreme droughts where we were forced to learn ways to reduce water consumption, including in the way we shower. Drawing from our experiences growing up amidst droughts and recognizing the pressing issue of the changing climate leading to more frequent extreme droughts, we thought about how automation could help users be more water-conscious. Thus, Aquare was born.
Droughts are dangerous, having a negative impact on the water, food, and air we need to survive. In some areas, like California, multi-year long droughts have been devastating, and the problem shows little evidence of going away. Aqare aims to tackle one of the biggest water consumption factors in the home: showing.
Previous systems have been put in place that limit consumers water usage, like water restricters that come standard in many shower heads. These restricters simply limit the flow of water. Some would argue this simply makes showers less efficient and take longer, ultimately not saving any water. Making a shower truly consume less water is labor intensive. Some typical methods include limiting the duration of one’s shower or collecting water in a bucket for separate water needs like watering plants or flushing the toilet when waiting for it to come to a comfortable temperature. These methods are labor intensive and prevent enjoyment while showering. Washing is done quickly and efficiently, but ultimately, it is up to the user to police themself on time. Aquare aims to make this process even easier. This system can preheat water, recycle excess water, and keep track of water usage statistics so the user doesn't have to. We see potential to implement Aquare throughout the home, but for the scope of this project we will only focus on Aquare’s implementation for the shower.
Task Analysis
In brainstorming our potential users to understand how this product could function, we came to the conclusion that there are two main sets of tasks to analyze: a typical shower user and a water conscious shower user. While the tasks are largely the same, there are key differences in the user behaviors that will help guide how this product functions.
Because this device will focus on ways to aid users save water, we gave special consideration to the water conscious shower user. Their motivations may vary from environmental sustainability to local drought conditions, but their needs remain similar.
Task Classification and Automation Strategy
To visualize our task analysis, task classification, and craft an automation strategy, we decided to overlay each set of information in one graphic. This helps us see the interaction between what steps need automation, what information the system needs to automate that step, and how we can implement it in the best manner possible.
Ultimately, our group decided that the additional burden caused by trying to conserve water could be fully automated. The system would begin a shower, prompted by either a schedule set by the user or user interaction with the device. It would then begin heating the water to the desired temperature, recirculating that water to avoid unneeded waste.
Additional features that make showering easier could also be implemented such as automatic soap, shampoo, and conditioner dispensing. These secondary features would not need full automation, as the user's needs may change from shower to shower. Rather than being controlled by automated timing, they would be actuated via voice or button in the shower.
A shower would be concluded when the allotted time expires, or the user manually stops the shower themselves.
Flow Chart
In order to better visualize the system workflow and how the system will complete its task, we crafted a flow chart. We decided to split our flow chart into one column highlighting user actions and the other column showing the system’s operations. By separating the two we are able to see how exactly our system automates the process of taking a water-conscious shower and how this automation improves upon the existing process. The flow chart shows a typical everyday usage of Aquare, but our system has other functions beyond this flow chart like setting water/energy usage goals and
User Experience
This UI is a prototype of the device as it would appear to a typical user. The home screen shows water usage, goals (and progress), the time, the user’s last shower (allowing for fluent system usage), and a button to set up a custom shower. This button brings the user to time and temperature parameter entry screens (adjusted via dial on side of button). The system takes the input and prepares the shower, alerting the user when it is ready. After their shower, the user can check the screen to view how the shower affected their goals. Click here for a prototype of these screens.
Time Set
While the user is configuring their custom shower profile, they are able to set the time duration that the water is on.
Temperature Set
The user is also able to set their optimal temperature that the water is preheated to before their shower begins.
Shower Ready
When the shower water is preheated in the tank, the system will notify the user that it is time to take a shower.
After Shower Message
When the user is done with their shower, the display reports a summary of their water usage. Accompanying this data is a running summary of their water useage for the month.
Potential System Hardware Design
This diagram shows the system in diagram form and is intended to visualize how the hardware components might be linked together. Additionally, it helps us identify what items share data and prompts us to think about how they might be connected. The Aquare system will have a water meter, water heater, clean water tank, filter, and dirty water tank. Many of these components will already be plumbed into the user's system, allowing an easier integration into Aquare.
User Walk Through
Upon first using Aquare, Kimberly would read the instructions for use and optionally download the mobile app on their phone for mobile access to their water statistics and shower workflow. Aquare would prompt Kimberly to set a water and energy usage goal for their desired duration (week, month, etc.) as well as provide recommended water consumption goals for their area and the number of people in the household.
Once Kimberly decides to take a shower, they prepare for their shower as usual: gathering personal items and going to the bathroom. They approach the Aquare home hub where they can see their water consumption history compared with their goals before they select the center shower button. Upon entering the shower workflow, Aquare prompts Kimberly to select their shower duration and then select their desired water temperature. Aquare prepares the water while Kimberly is free to undress and do their normal pre-shower activities. Once the water reaches the desired temperature, Aquare notifies Kimberly. Kimberly steps into the shower and the water/timer start. Throughout their shower, Aquare provides timing updates (halfway, one minute left, end time, minutes past set time, etc.). Kimberly showers as usual before opening their shower door which stops the water. Kimberly dries themself and does their usual post-shower actions while reading the statistics of their shower on the Aquare home hub. Aquare provides Kimberly with their water and energy usage from their shower as well as how that shower is affecting them meeting their water consumption goals. Kimberly leaves the post-shower statistics screen to see the updated home screen accounting for this recent shower.
Kimberly could encounter several errors while using Aquare. If Kimberly steps into the shower before the water has reached the desired temperature, Aquare would ask Kimberly if they want to wait for the water to reach temperature or if they want the water to start regardless of its current temperature. Sensor errors could occur when detecting water starting/stopping triggers. If the shower sensor fails and doesn’t recognize Kimberly stepping into the shower to start the water or if Aquare doesn’t recognize Kimberly opening the shower barrier to stop the water, Kimberly could manually start/stop the water as usual. Aquare’s settings could be customized to Kimberly’s preference. Kimberly could set the amount of timing updates throughout the shower or set it so that water automatically turns off when the timer runs out. If Kimberly were to want to change the water temperature mid-shower, they could change the temperature manually or on the Aquare hub. Errors with Aquare’s hardware could occur from normal wear and tear, and fixing them could require professional help similar to any normal bathroom hardware maintenance.