System and method for controlling an irrigation system using feedback from flow meters installed in an irrigation system are described. The systems and method allows for automatic detection of the number of flow meters and their relation to controls valves attached to an irrigation system and for precise and reliable fluid flow measurements. Typical water flows for the system are learned and then compared to current water flows to detect water leaks (i.e., high water flow), malfunctioning control valves and/or low water flow and subsequently trigger electronic alerts to the user when system malfunctions are detected.