How to track rainwater consumption
in real time
Daily graphs, monthly comparisons, leak detection, watering optimization: everything you need to know to control your rainwater consumption.
Installing a rainwater tank is an environmentally friendly and cost-saving step. But do you really know how much water you consume every day, every month, every season? Without accurate monitoring, it is impossible to optimize your use, detect a problem or measure the savings achieved.
With a connected probe Like tankio, tracking your rainwater consumption becomes as simple as checking your phone. In this article, we explore how real-time data transforms your water management and helps you adopt more sustainable behaviours.
Contents
bar_chart 1. Daily consumption graphs
Real-time monitoring begins with the Data visualization in the tankio application. Every day, the sensor measures the level of your tank at regular intervals and transmits this data to the application. You instantly see the level evolution as a graph.
The daily graphs show the level curve hour by hour. You visualize the moments of consumption (shower, toilet, watering) and periods of filling (rain). At a glance, you know whether your consumption of the day was typical or exceptional.
For example, you can see that garden watering consumes 300 litres in an hour, while toilet consumption over a day is 40 to 60 litres for a family of 4 people. These data help you adjust your habits : If you see that the watering quickly empties the tank, you may switch to drip irrigation, much more economical.
calendar_month 2. Monthly and seasonal comparisons
Beyond daily life, the tankio application allows you to compare your consumption from month to month and from season to season. These comparisons are essential to understand your habits and detect trends.
In summer, rainwater consumption explodes due to garden watering. The app shows you exactly how much: your summer consumption can be 2 to 3 times higher than your winter consumption. When you see this data, you adapt your management: you know you need to near stock in spring to hold all summer, or that your tank is undersized for your summer needs.
Comparisons from year to year are even more instructive. You see, for example, that a dry summer like 2025 reduced your consumption (less watering due to restrictions), but increased your use of the network. This long-term data is valuable to properly size your facility or to assess the impact of changes (installation of an additional rainwater tank, pump change, etc.). See our guide level sensor for rainwater harvesting.
plumbing 3. Early detection of leaks and anomalies
Rainwater leaks are insidious. Unlike a leak of drinking water (which makes noise, which wets the ground), a leak on a rainwater tank can go unnoticed for weeks. One extraction valve that drops, a leaking pump seal, an overflow that does not close properly: these small problems can account for hundreds of litres lost each week.
With Tankio’s real-time monitoring, the application detects the abnormal level decreases outside periods of use. If the level drops at night or no one is home, an alert is sent immediately. The notification "Suspicious leak detected: 5% decrease in 2 hours without identified consumption" allows you to intervene before the loss becomes significant.
Historical data are also used to detect long-term trends. If your baseline consumption (excluding watering) gradually increases over several weeks, this may indicate an emerging problem: a leaking toilet cistern, a dripping outdoor tap, or the pump has a non-return valve problem. The app alerts you about these abnormal developments. For more information, visit our FAQ.
Types of detectable anomalies:
- Abnormal overnight level drop (leak in the distribution network).
- Level that does not rise after a rain (blocked overflow, clogged roof diverter).
- Gradually rising daily consumption (dripping tap, leaking flush).
- Pump that often activates abnormally (inadequate holding pressure).
- Slower than usual filling (clogged filter, obstructed pipe).
yard 4. Optimization of garden watering
Garden watering often accounts for 50 to 70% of annual rainwater consumption for tank owners. With accurate monitoring, you can greatly optimize this use.
The tankio application shows you the impact of each watering: you immediately see how many litres your automatic sprinklers consume per cycle, or what a 30-minute hose watering is about. Based on this data, you adjust your practices:
- Switch from sprinkler irrigation (50 L/m2) to drip irrigation (15 L/m2).
- Water early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation.
- Schedule automatic watering only when the tank level is sufficient.
- Use the app’s weather forecast to avoid watering when rain is expected.
Some tankio users have reduced their watering consumption by 40% in a year, simply by becoming aware of their actual consumption thanks to the data from the connected gauge. Discover our solution for Rainwater tank.
eco 5. Environmental impact: litres of drinking water saved
One of the most motivating aspects of consumption monitoring is the visualization of your environmental impact. The tankio application automatically calculates the volume of drinking water you saved with your tank.
In concrete terms, each litre of rainwater used is a litre of drinking water that has not been drawn from groundwater, pumped, treated, and transported to your home. The economy is both ecological and financial. The app shows you these figures in striking ways: "In 2025 you saved 45,000 litres of drinking water, equivalent to 225 baths. »
On a Belgian scale, if each tank owner fitted their tank with a connected sensor and optimised its consumption, the drinking water savings would amount to millions of litres per year. These tangible data are a strong incentive for further improving your practices. See our article on rainwater harvesting with pump system.
Each m3 of rainwater used is €3 to €5 saved on your water bill, and 1 kg of CO₂ emissions avoided (treatment and pumping of drinking water).
phone_android 6. Tankio application for water management
The tankio application is the heart of the system. Designed to be intuitive and complete, it gives you all the keys to manage your rainwater supply optimally.
Key features of the application for rainwater management include:
- Real-time dashboard : current tank level in percentage and litres, with visual gauge.
- Consumption graphs : day, week, month, year with the possibility to zoom in over a period.
- Customizable alerts Low level, very low level, leak detection, forecast of when the tank will run empty.
- Full history : data stored over the entire period of use, exportable.
- Integrated weather forecast : visualize the precipitation expected to anticipate filling.
- Family sharing All members of the household can follow the level on their own phone.
- Remote monitoring Follow your reserve wherever you are.
With the tankio application, you move from a "blind" management of your tank to complete control of your water supply. You no longer ask "is there water left?" but "will I have enough water for the next two weeks?" To learn more, discover our connected level sensor.