Systems and methods for irrigation monitoring and leak detection

A method of operating a fluid supply system, comprising:

• converting, by a generator, mechanical energy of a micro-turbine which has been made to revolve by a fluid flowing through a pipeline to electric energy;
• using the electric energy to charge an energy storage device of an Energy Harvesting Circuit (EHC);
• operating a switch to open an electrical connection between the energy storage device of the EHC and the micro-turbine when an amount of said electric energy being stored during charging of the energy storage device reaches a threshold value, wherein the threshold value represents an amount of electric energy needed to power at least a sensor device electrically connected to the EHC, and the micro-turbine is disconnected from the energy storage device when the electrical connection is open such that the energy storage device is no longer being charged using the electric energy;
• detecting by the sensor device an amount of natural fluid flow through the pipeline while the electrical connection between the energy storage device of the EHC and the micro-turbine is open;
• operating the switch to close the electrical connection between the energy storage device of the EHC and the micro-turbine after the amount of natural fluid flow has been detected, wherein the micro-turbine is reconnected to the energy storage device when the electrical connection is closed such that the energy storage device is once again able to be charged using the electric energy;
• and
• using an antenna for a dual purpose of (i) communicating information from the EHC to a remote device and (ii) concurrently detecting physical damage to the antenna and a sprinkler;
• wherein the EHC is located along the pipeline adjacent to the sprinkler, and the antenna is electrically connected to the EHC and integrated into the sprinkler such that the antenna at least partially resides within a head or main body of the sprinkler.