AquaAlert

Tracker
Web Dashboard

Inspiration

UMass hydration stations provide clean water to thousands of students. They are located in every dorm and most academic buildings, but filter maintenance is often overlooked. Some stations are so slow that it takes several minutes to fill a small bottle, indicating that the filter has not been replaced in a very long time. We've also noticed that filters with yellow and red filter indication lights stay at this status for entire semesters. Without a centralized tracking system, maintenance teams may not realize when filters need replacing until students actively complain. We wanted to create a proactive and efficient solution to monitor filter conditions, notify staff when replacements are needed, and ensure that every student has access to fresh, clean water without frustration. By combining user feedback with a centralized data location, AquaAlert transforms the way UMass maintains its hydration stations, improving both efficiency and sustainability.

What it does

AquaAlert is a smart tracking system designed to monitor and manage filter replacements for UMass hydration stations. Each station is equipped with a tracker that prompts users to provide two key inputs:

Filter Flow Rating – Users select whether the water flow is Good, Okay, or Bad, helping gauge potential clogging or decreased efficiency.
Filter Light Indicator – Users report the station’s filter light color (Green, Yellow, or Red), signaling the filter’s condition.

This data is automatically logged and sent to a centralized website, where each hydration station is assigned a unique identifier. The dashboard provides real-time insights, displaying the specific location of each station (building, floor, and detailed placement if applicable).

When multiple reports indicate poor flow or a red filter light, AquaAlert alerts UMass maintenance staff, ensuring timely filter replacements. By leveraging user input and structured tracking, AquaAlert prevents outdated filters from being used, keeping campus water clean and fresh for students.

How we built it

We built AquaAlert by combining both hardware and software to create an efficient and connected tracking system.

Hardware: We used a pre-built circuit board from a previous CS course, then wired buttons, a microchip, LEDs, and an OLED display to create an intuitive user interface for reporting filter status. The buttons allow users to rate water flow, while the LEDs indicate which filter quality or rating level each button represents.

Software: We wrote custom Arduino code to handle user input, control the display, and transmit data over WiFi. The tracker connects to the same WiFi network as our custom-built website, ensuring real-time data updates.

Web Dashboard: We developed a website that logs and displays reports from each hydration station, mapping locations and tracking filter conditions in a user-friendly interface.

This combination of hardware and software enables seamless tracking, real-time updates, and automated maintenance alerts to keep UMass’s hydration stations running efficiently.

Challenges we ran into

Some of the challenges we ran into were the fact that the hardware table and the makerspace did not have many of the components we were looking for and the components that were similar had some compatibility issues. We also ran into issues with the 3D printer printing warped boxes for our circuit board. In terms of software, scaling the website to handle multiple data sources was a challenge.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of accomplishing our first hardware project and successfully navigating all of the roadblocks we encountered. There were many challenges associated with both the software and hardware aspects of our project, yet we were able to create something that was true to our original vision even with the detours we took. Overall, we stepped out of our comfort zones and tried something new.

What we learned

We learned how to work effectively in a team, delegating tasks and separating the workload based on our strengths and weaknesses. Not having worked with hardware much before, communication was imperative. Without discussion about what goals and processes we wanted to use and accomplish, we would not have been able to successfully complete our project.

What's next for AquaAlert

We aim to expand AquaAlert by integrating it with hydration stations across campus, enhancinghardware and website design/features, and exploring partnerships with UMass facilities for campus-wide implementation, or at least implementation in buildings where the hydrations stations have been historically slow.