How to choose the right meter

Water meters play an important role in the water network, and choosing the ideal metering solutions for your specific needs can be challenging.

To help minimize the guesswork and get your solution operating at the highest level, try to solve the issues below, to ensure you identify the perfect meter for your network.

The key to choosing a water meter is to fully understand your specific requirements and goals. For that purpose, a comprehensive understanding of the performance and data capabilities expected will ensure that you acquire the technology that best suits your needs.

Your choice should be based on both technological and economic criteria. With the aim of helping our customers and friends, I have developed the following guidelines to assist you in your water meter choice. as a first approach to the water meter choice.

Which issues should we consider for a first?

Let’s see how one or several of the following aspects will influence your decision:

Usage

The intended use of the water meter is the first basic question to be answered because it will determine its building materials, its technology, its communication capabilities, etc….

For Irrigation? Industrial use? Domestic use?

For billing control?

To encourage water conservation?

For chemical dosing processes?

For general reports?

For water saving purposes?

Leakage detection?

Etc…

The legal requirements

For both irrigation and domestic use, water meters, as a metrological instrument is under strict legal controls. Therefore, you need to be sure to install a meter that complies with the local legal legislation.

When purchasing a water meter, it will be necessary to choose the metrological working range. This parameter does not define the accuracy of the water meter but the lower flow sensibility.

The metrological working range is defined by the Ratio (This value is the relation between Working flow / Minimum flow).

The higher the “R” Ratio, the greater sensitivity the meter has for measuring low flow rates.

The standard values of the R ratios in water meter are the following*:

R40, R50, R63, R80, R100, R125, R160, R 200, R250, R315, R400, R500, R630, R800 y R1000.

(*This list can be extended in some serials. Be aware that this this nomenclature is replacing the old metrological classes A, B, and C)

And remember that a meter will only be accurate if the environmental conditions meet all the manufacturer’s requirements of flow profile, installation, temperature, flow range, vibration etc.

Water Source and quality

Where you are sourcing water from will have a bearing on the water quality (silt, weed etc.), range of flow rates and pressure, so it must be taken into account whether the source is a river, surface water, groundwater, or open channel or pressurised pipe water.

For example, a meter with no moving parts will be recommended for watercourse with dirt (ultrasonic or electromagnetic technologies).

To be considered as well is the presence of any potential contaminants.
Generally, the more accurate and reliable a water meter is, the more expensive it is.

However, the purchase price should not be yours is not the only cost factor you need to consider. Count as well the cost of installation, maintenance, data collection, calibration and longevity costs.

These are most of the issues that must be answered and that and that will help you to make the right choice. In case of doubt, you can always ask to SH MECH who will advise and guide you through the process.

I hope you found this article useful. Please contact me for any further information or share any constructive feedback.