Abstract: A monitor device is attached to the water supply line of a consumer where it repeatedly measures a characteristic that correlates to quality of water in the water line. Each of a succession of a water quality values is derived from one or more of the measurements. The process continues at selected intervals to continuously monitor the condition of water in the line. Each new value can be compared to a reference value representing a maximum acceptable level of contaminants. If the water quality value exceeds the reference value, an overvalue signal is produced, indicating an unacceptable level of contaminants in the water. Additionally, the values can be transmitted to a central collection facility where they are correlated with values transmitted by similar devices on the supply lines of other consumers to track the quality of water of a supply system over time.

Abstract: A device repeatedly measures a characteristic, such as electrical conductivity, of water in a water line. A plurality of the measurements are averaged to arrive at a water quality value. This value is displayed and another plurality of measurements are averaged to arrive at another value, which is then displayed in place of the previous value. The process continues at selected intervals in order to provide a continuous display of the condition of water in the line. Each new value is compared to a reference value representing a maximum acceptable level of contaminants. If the water quality value exceeds the reference value, an overvalue signal is produced, indicating an unacceptable level of contaminants in the water. The repeated measurements are obtained at selected intervals, and a new water quality value may be derived at the same intervals by discarding the oldest of the measurements from the previous plurality and including the most recent measurement to create a new plurality of measurements.