Disclosed is a smart monitor for monitoring fire hydrants and comprising an electronic module associated with an operating nut and nut shaft.The electronic module is configured to monitor the fire hydrant operating nut to determine when the fire hydrant has been activated. When a hydrant is activated, the electronic module performs at least one of the following functions: stores activation
time data, records sound data, records image data, turns on a signaling device, determines possible flow rate by counting the number of turns the operating nut has been turned, records elapsed time since hydrant activation, estimates consumption based on
time data and possible flow rate data, transmits activation data to a remove
receiver. Embodiments of the smart monitor also include a
receiver configured for receiving a
signal from remote
transmitter for activating the signaling device.