Seeking a more proactive approach to water quality management, one apartment complex in Bengaluru installed Waltr devices, including Waltr Q, to monitor Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) levels in its water tanks. This simple step revealed a hidden issue that could have posed a risk to residents.  

Previously, the community followed standard practices—quarterly tank cleaning and water testing. While common, this routine offered only a snapshot of water quality, frequently missing sudden contamination events triggered by city-wide water supply fluctuations. Consequently, potential issues often went unnoticed.

The Challenge

Immediately after installing the Waltr Q devices, the management received alerts indicating high TDS levels in four of their five tanks. Elevated TDS levels can indicate the presence of impurities, prompting the team to launch a further investigation.

The Solution

The maintenance team collected water samples from the affected tanks and sent them for testing. The subsequent test results confirmed the presence of high levels of E. coli, a harmful bacterium, in three of the tanks. The real-time data provided by Waltr Q enabled the team to identify and address the issue swiftly, preventing potential harm to residents.

Following health guidelines, the contaminated tanks were immediately isolated, cleaned, and disinfected, effectively mitigating potential health risks.

Implementation

The apartment complex installed five Waltr Q devices, one for each water tank. The installation process was quick and did not necessitate any significant modifications to the existing tanks. Once set up, the devices continuously monitored TDS levels and transmitted the data to the cloud. The maintenance team could easily access this data through the Waltr dashboard.

When TDS levels exceeded safe limits, the system automatically triggered alerts to the management's mobile app, enabling immediate action.

Results

• 24/7 Monitoring: Waltr Q provided continuous TDS monitoring, eliminating the need for manual checks.

• Early Detection: The system quickly identified abnormal TDS levels, preventing the potential spread of harmful bacteria and associated health issues.

• Quick Action: Contaminated tanks were isolated, cleaned, and restored to safe conditions with minimal disruption to residents.

• Safer Water: Follow-up testing confirmed the water was safe, giving the residents peace of mind.

• Less Manual Work: Automated monitoring reduced the need for frequent inspections, allowing staff to focus on other important tasks.

“We installed Waltr Q to improve our water management, but we didn’t expect to uncover an issue with water quality. This technology helped us prevent complaints from residents and ensure their safety and satisfaction. – Maintenance Supervisor”

Some of the problems that can be caused by high E. coli in water

• Gastrointestinal Illnesses: Causes diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps (if not filter properly).

• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Increases the risk of UTIs, particularly in women.

• Skin and Hair Irritation: Can lead to rashes, itching, and scalp irritation

• Unsafe for Cooking: Contaminated water can cause foodborne illnesses when used in cooking.

• Unsafe for Cleaning or Washing Food: Washing food with contaminated water can transfer harmful bacteria, making food unsafe.

• Eye and Ear Infections: Increases the risk of infections in the eyes and ears (if exposed to contaminated water).

• Increased Risk for Open Wounds: Contaminated water can lead to infections in individuals with open wounds or cuts.

Conclusion

This Bangalore apartment case study highlights the importance of real-time TDS monitoring. TDS levels reflect overall water quality—while normal levels usually indicate safe water, high levels signal a need for further checks. In this case, Waltr Q played a key role by giving an early warning, helping reduce the need for immediate lab testing unless necessary.

With Waltr Q, you can not only monitor TDS levels in real time but also view historical data and receive alerts on your phone if TDS crosses safe limits. All this is made possible with our IoT-based smart device designed for water quality monitoring.