Apparatus and methods for monitoring water consumption and filter usage

A water level monitoring system for determining an amount of water added to and/or consumed from a filtered water container comprising:

• a detection sensor extended along a length of the filtered water container, the detection sensor comprising a plurality of electrode pairs, each respective electrode pair in the plurality of electrode pairs comprising a first electrode and a second electrode spaced sufficiently far apart from each other in the respective electrode pair so that an electrical property associated with the first and second electrodes that changes with changes in the water level can be detected;
• a detection circuit in electrical communication with the plurality of electrode pairs in the detection sensor, the detection circuit capable of generating signals based on the respective electrical properties of the first and second electrodes in the plurality of electrode pairs;
• and
• a control unit in electrical communication with the detection circuit, wherein the control unit determines changes in the water level in said filtered water container from the signals received from the detection circuit and thereby determines the amount of water added to and/or consumed from said filtered water container over a period of time in which water is added to and consumed from the container.

A method of measuring changes in a water level in a filtered water container comprising the steps of:

• generating a signal based on an electrical property associated with a first electrode and a second electrode in an electrode pair, said electrical property changing with changes in the water level in said filtered water container;
• and
• determining changes in the water level in said filtered water container from the generated signals;
• and
• determining an amount of filtered water consumption from the changes in the water level over a period of time in which water is added to and consumed from the container.

A method of measuring a water level of a filtered water container comprising:

• generating signals based on electrical properties of a plurality of electrode pairs, the electrical property of each electrode pair in the plurality of electrode pairs changing with changes in the water level in said filtered water container;
• and
• determining changes in the water level in said filtered water container from the generated signals;
• and
• determining an amount of filtered water consumption from the changes in the water level over a period of time in which water is added to and consumed from the container.