Alert system for detecting contents within a container

A low-media alert system, comprising:

• a water softener comprising a media container and a valve system configured to mix brine contained in the media container with a stream of incoming water;
• a time-of-flight sensor coupled to the media container at a location spaced away from the media, the time-of-flight sensor configured to measure a distance from the sensor to a media level within the media container;
• and
• a controller programmed to compare the measured distance to a threshold distance associated with a low-media condition within the container, and to take a corrective action when the measured distance is larger than a preprogrammed threshold distance.

A method of providing a low-media alert for a water softener, the method comprising:

• activating a sensor attached to a media container, the sensor sized and configured to provide water softening media to the water softener;
• activating a controller to detect a level of the media in the container via the sensor;
• and
• initiating a refilling protocol when a level of media in the container falls below a predetermined threshold.