A system is provided for determining from a location upstream of a plurality of water appliances, whether a specific water appliance is malfunctioning. The system may comprise at least one processor. The system may detect, from at least one sensor in a distributed water infrastructure upstream of the plurality of water appliances, a plurality of normal water usage profiles. The system may associate at least one of the plurality of normal water usage profiles with each of the plurality of water appliances. The system may store each of the plurality of normal water usage profiles in a manner associating each of the plurality of normal water usage profiles with an associated water appliance. The system may detect at least one current water usage profile. The system may compare the at least one current water usage profile with at least one of the stored normal water usage profiles to determine a corresponding identity of an associated water usage appliance and to determine if a substantial deviation exists between the stored normal water usage profile for the identified appliance and the at least one current water usage profile. The substantial deviation may be reflective of a potential malfunction in the associated water usage appliance. The system may initiate remedial action if the substantial deviation, reflective of a potential malfunction, is determined.