A digital water meter plays an important role in the water network. But choosing the right meter can be challenging. A water meter is a metrological instrument designed to measure the mass flow rate of water. As you may already have heard, there are hundreds of meters on the market today. They come in different prices, technologies, capabilities and applications. A good choice of meter can help you save a lot of money.
The key to selecting a meter is to understand your goals and requirements. For this purpose, a comprehensive understanding of the data capabilities and performance expected will ensure that you get the technology that suits your unique needs. Your choice must be based on both economic criteria and technological criteria.
What to consider when choosing a meter
When choosing the right meter for your application, there are a lot of things you need to consider.
Usage
The use of the meter is the first thing to consider when choosing the right meter. Are you choosing a meter for irrigation, domestic use or industrial use? Do you want water for billing control or do you need a meter to encourage water conservation? Are you looking for general reports from your meter or you are installing a meter for dosing processes? Do you need a meter for leak detection or do you want a meter for water-saving needs?
The legal requirements
When choosing water meters, it is essential to consider the legal requirements. For both domestic and irrigation use, meters are under strict legal control. You should therefore install a meter that complies with all legal legislation.
Accuracy and low-flow sensibility
When buying a meter, it is necessary to choose the metrological working range. This doesn’t define the accuracy of the meter but the lower the water flow sensibility. You should remember that a meter can only be accurate if the environmental conditions adhere to the manufacturer’s requirements of the installation, flow profile, flow range, temperature and vibration.
Water quality and source
Your water source will have a bearing on the quality of water, pressure, range of flow rates and so on. It is therefore a must to take into consideration whether the water source is surface water, a river, groundwater or pressured pipe water.
Head pressure
You should know the available pressure where you want to measure. Check whether the water levels fluctuate during the season. Keep in mind that the pipe should run full to offer accurate measurement.
The range of the flow
Keep in mind the flow range of your abstraction. Make sure the maximum water flow that passes through the meter does not exceed the working flow. You may lose accuracy at the lower end of your flow range if you select a large meter.
Installation
Consider the installation of a digital water meter when choosing a meter. Each meter has different installation needs that could affect your choice. The distances downstream and upstream will affect the installation costs. The location of the water meter will determine the technology to be used.
