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Prevent water damage in retail and shopping centres with LeakNet. Real-time monitoring, automated shut-off, and reduced water waste.
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Reduce water risk, prevent costly damage, and improve efficiency across retail estates with real-time monitoring, automated shut-off, and intelligent analytics using solutions such as LeakNet.
Retail and shopping centre environments present unique challenges when it comes to water management. Large estates often consist of multiple units, shared infrastructure, and varying usage patterns, making consistent monitoring difficult.
Leaks can develop in tenant spaces, communal areas, or behind-the-scenes infrastructure such as plant rooms and service corridors. These issues often go unnoticed, particularly outside trading hours.
Water damage in retail environments can result in store closures, loss of revenue, and disruption to both tenants and customers. Implementing smart leak detection and water monitoring is essential to maintain operational continuity and protect assets across retail estates.
Shared washrooms are among the highest-traffic, highest-risk areas in shopping centres. Quensus combines usage monitoring with leak prevention to optimise cleaning regimes based on actual footfall, reduce water waste, and improve customer satisfaction (CSAT) scores, while protecting against the hidden leaks that often develop in busy communal facilities. Learn more about transforming washrooms.
Many retail and shopping centre estates still rely on leak detection: reactive approaches such as point sensors in individual units, manual inspections, or tenant-reported issues that confirm a problem only after water has escaped. In a multi-unit environment, that often means damage has already spread to stock, fixtures, or neighbouring tenants before anyone responds.
Leak prevention takes a different approach, using continuous flow monitoring, automated alerts, and shut-off to identify abnormal usage across units and shared systems before trading is disrupted. You can read more in our article on leak detection vs leak prevention.
Even small leaks can have a significant impact in retail environments. Water damage can spread quickly across units, affecting multiple tenants and requiring extensive repair work.
Key risks include:
Store closures and loss of trading time
Damage to stock, fixtures, and interiors
Disruption to tenants and customer experience
High repair and reinstatement costs
Undetected water waste across multiple units
Retail environments are particularly vulnerable during non-trading hours, when leaks can continue undetected for extended periods.
For operators, this makes water risk both a financial and operational concern. Implementing leak prevention systems and smart water monitoring is critical to reduce exposure and maintain performance across sites.
Leak prevention systems provide continuous monitoring and automated control across water systems. Solutions such as LeakNet track flow and consumption in real time, identifying abnormal behaviour as it occurs.
This enables early detection of:
Continuous flow in unoccupied units
Unexpected spikes in water usage
Hidden leaks within pipework or washroom facilities
Faults in appliances or infrastructure
When anomalies are detected, alerts are triggered and water supply can be automatically isolated where required. This ensures issues are addressed before they escalate, supporting best practice in leak monitoring systems.
In plant rooms, service corridors, and behind-the-scenes infrastructure, Splash Sensors add point-of-risk coverage, while Leak Cable laid along service corridor floors and plant room routes provides broader moisture detection. Both work alongside mains-level LeakNet monitoring across the estate.
Quensus combines LeakNet with intelligent analytics to provide visibility and control across multi-site retail environments.
This enables operators to:
Monitor water usage across all locations
Identify inefficiencies and reduce waste
Standardise risk management across sites
Improve reporting and operational insight
This approach aligns with broader smart water management strategies.
RISK REDUCTION
Continuous monitoring identifies abnormal usage early, preventing leaks from escalating across retail units and shared systems.
OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
Real-time data highlights inefficiencies and enables proactive maintenance across multiple retail sites.
COST CONTROL
Monitoring across units and infrastructure helps eliminate unnecessary consumption and avoid unexpected costs.
RESILIENCE
Retail sites remain protected even outside trading hours, reducing the risk of overnight incidents.
PORTFOLIO OVERSIGHT
Centralised monitoring provides clear visibility across entire retail portfolios, from single units to large centres.
Up to 7 credits for reducing water usage per person per day compared against a baseline performance. For example, use water-saving WCs, tap aerators, low-flow showers, waterless urinals, and greywater/rainwater for recycling non-potable water.
Our expertise in smart water metering and data analytics allows us to monitor and analyse water consumption patterns, providing valuable insights to identify water-saving opportunities and track progress towards reduction targets.
Installing our device on the main meter earns you 4 points.
Sub-metering building areas consuming 10% or more of the building's total water demand, or metering multi-tenant buildings per tenanted area, achieves an additional 2 credits.
Up to 4 credits (each) are available based on the water efficiency of the following assets to reduce overall water consumption in the building:
WAT02 - Water-efficient equipment: toilets
WAT03 - Water-efficient equipment: urinals
WAT04 - Water-efficient equipment: hand washing basins
WAT05 - Water-efficient equipment: showers
WAT06 - Water-efficient equipment: white goods
Our experience in specifying and installing water-efficient fixtures can help building owners select and implement the most appropriate solutions to achieve significant water savings.
Up to 4 credits for installing a robust leak detection system, which plays a vital role in conserving water resources. By promptly identifying and addressing leaks, buildings can significantly reduce water wastage, contributing to a more sustainable water footprint. 1 credit has traditionally been given for a leak detection system that can detect a major water leak on the mains water supply within the building and/or between the building and the utilities water meter.
Our advanced leak detection technology, including smart metering and real-time monitoring, can quickly identify and locate leaks, enabling prompt repairs and minimising water wastage, potentially enabling you to achieve the full 4 credits after a complete calendar year.
Up to 4 credits for proactive measures to prevent leaks. Proper installation and maintenance of flow control devices, whether in sanitary fittings or larger residential complexes, are essential for minimising water loss and ensuring the longevity of plumbing systems.
Our LeakNet system goes beyond traditional leak prevention methods. With AI-powered monitoring, real-time alerts, and automatic shut-off capabilities, LeakNet actively identifies and stops leaks before they cause significant damage or water wastage. This proactive approach aligns perfectly with the BREEAM focus on minimising water loss and ensuring the longevity of plumbing systems.
Up to 4 credits can be awarded depending on the extent and effectiveness of the isolation valve strategy within the building's water supply system, which allows controlled shut-off of specific sections of the water supply, enabling targeted maintenance or repairs without disrupting the entire system. 1 credit has traditionally been given for installing a flow control device to each WC area/facility so that water is only supplied when needed.
Our smart shut-off valves seamlessly integrate into any plumbing system, providing the isolation capabilities necessary for targeted maintenance and repairs.
This not only meets the traditional BREEAM requirement for isolation valves but also enhances it with intelligent control and automation.
By enabling quick and precise shut-off of specific sections, LeakNet minimises disruption and water wastage during maintenance activities, maximising the potential for achieving up to 4 credits.
The automatic shut-off functionality also serves as an innovative flow control device, securing an additional credit for controlling water supply to WC areas.
Up to 4 credits for using alternative water sources and efficient water-using technologies. Rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, and the use of water-efficient fixtures are examples of strategies that can substantially decrease reliance on mains water supply.
While we don't directly address alternative water sources, LeakNet's ability to dramatically reduce water wastage through automatic shutoff and leak prevention contributes to lowering mains water consumption.
By minimising unnecessary water loss, LeakNet supports the overarching goal of WAT10, contributing to achieving the maximum credits available.
Up to 4 credits for accurate monitoring and reporting of water consumption data, which is fundamental to effective water management. By tracking consumption patterns, building owners and operators can identify areas for improvement and implement targeted water-saving measures. This will include internal sub-meters to monitor the impacts of inefficiencies and leakage and encourage more effective water management.
Our smart metering and data analytics capabilities can provide detailed insights into water consumption patterns, facilitating the identification of inefficiencies and enabling targeted water-saving interventions.
Up to 4 credits for re-using water for non-potable purposes, such as irrigation or toilet flushing, reduces the demand on treated water supplies. This credit promotes innovative solutions for sustainable water sourcing.
Our experience in monitoring water recycling systems, such as greywater and rainwater harvesting solutions, can help track inefficiencies in these systems and maximise the reuse of water to reduce environmental impact.
Up to 4 credits for standardised reporting of water consumption, benchmarking, and comparison across different buildings and portfolios. This transparency encourages continuous improvement in water efficiency and supports informed decision-making.
Obtain 2 credits by using our data management and reporting tools to automate the collection, analysis, and reporting of water consumption data, providing clear and actionable insights to support decision-making.
Earn 1 extra credit when you report on it internally, and another credit if you publish this information in an annual report.
A comprehensive water strategy goes beyond individual measures by establishing a holistic approach to water management. It includes regular maintenance of water systems, water efficiency, water reuse, and leak detection. The strategy should also include a plan for monitoring and reporting water consumption ensuring optimal performance and longevity, as well as promoting awareness and behavioral changes among building occupants to foster a water-conscious culture.
Up to 8 credits are available depending on the comprehensiveness of the water strategy and the inclusion of specific elements such as:
A proactive maintenance policy for installed water systems
Targets for reducing water consumption
A plan for monitoring and reporting water consumption
A plan for engaging building occupants in water conservation efforts
Our holistic approach to water management and expertise in water efficiency, reuse, and leak detection can help building owners develop and implement comprehensive water strategies that achieve long-term sustainability and cost savings.
Every building’s risk profile and budget differ. Unlike one-size-fits-all systems, Quensus engineers a bespoke leak-detection solution around your insurer’s requirements and cost constraints - saving you thousands in wasted water and premiums. There is an unlimited number of options, but we have simplified leak prevention into our four main tiers:
A combination of bronze, silver and gold will provide the most effective leak prevention system available.
Automatic Flow Monitoring with Smart Shutoff Valves on the boosted supply to each unit/apartment. The most effective solution post-handover over the lifetime of the building.
Automatic Flow Monitoring with Smart Shutoff Valves on the boosted supply to each floor (or each riser if plumbing is vertically fed). Ideal during construction because each floor can be isolated individually.
The absolute minimum you should be looking for is Automatic Flow Monitoring on the Mains Cold Water System and Boosted Cold Water System for the whole building. This is covered in the BREEAM WAT03 standard.
Got questions? Ask us!
We’re your H2O Heroes! Choosing the right water management solution can be tricky, but our friendly team is here to help.
We’ve compiled the top FAQs for quick answers - Read FAQ.
Leak prevention involves monitoring water systems across retail units, shared infrastructure, and plant areas to detect abnormal usage and prevent leaks before they cause damage or disruption.
Leaks can lead to store closures, damage to stock and interiors, and disruption to tenants and customers. In multi-unit environments, a single issue can affect multiple spaces.
Leaks typically occur in washrooms, plant rooms, tenant units, and service corridors. They are especially common in vacant or low-traffic units where issues may go unnoticed.
By identifying issues early and enabling rapid response or automatic shut-off, leak prevention systems help avoid incidents that would otherwise interrupt trading or require units to close.
Yes, it provides centralised visibility across multiple shopping centres or retail sites, allowing operators to monitor performance and manage risk consistently.
Leak prevention reduces water waste, prevents costly damage, and minimises reactive maintenance, helping operators control both utility and operational costs.
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