October 2012
2-7
••
To ensure uniform flow entering the meter, do not install the meter near pipe
bends. In general, place the meter in a location where there is a space of straight
pipe equivalent to at least 10 times the pipe diameter downstream of the meter
and five times the pipe diameter upstream of the meter.
8
••
Create a map indicating the location of all water supply meters and submeters to
be included in the facility water management plan.
••
Include a strainer on all meters and submeters. Debris and sediment can enter a
meter and have an adverse effect on accurate measurement. An inline strainer on
the meter’s inlet will collect debris and sediment and prevent them from enter-
ing the meter body.
9
••
Since meters deteriorate with age, test them for accuracy and calibrate them on
a regular basis. AWWA recommends that utility-owned meters be tested, on aver-
age, as follows:
10
à
à
Meter sizes 5/8 inch to 1 inch: Every 10 years
à
à
Meter sizes 1 inch to 4 inches: Every five years
à
à
Meter sizes 4 inches and larger: Every year
••
Consider inspecting and calibrating submeters more frequently, depending
upon the type and size of the meter and its application.
Water Use Tracking and Integration Into theWater Management Plan
Building owners and operators should consider installing a water meter data man-
agement system with remote communication capabilities that provides instant
feedback on all metered water use in a central location. This
type of system makes it easier for building managers to iden-
tify leaks or other abnormalities and better understand and
manage water use at the facility.
If the facility is not integrating metering data into a central-
ized data system, consider the following best practices:
11
••
Assign responsibility to track water use at least monthly.
••
Ensure that staff understands how to read the meters
and record data properly. Pay special attention to the
units that the meter uses—gallons, cubic feet, and hun-
dred cubic feet are common units for water meters. Also,
ensure that staff record the numerical values properly.
Meters often include one or more trailing zeros that
must be added after the numerical dial reading.
2.2
Metering and Submetering
8
AWWA. 1999.
Water Meters—Selection, Installation, Testing, and Maintenance
(
AWWA Manual M6, Fourth Edition). Pages 40-46.
9
Smith,
op. cit.
10
Georgia Environmental Protection Division. August 2007.
Water Meter Calibration, Repair, and Replacement Program
.
Page 7.
11
U.S. Energy Department, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Federal Energy Management Program. Best Management Practice: Water Management Planning.
A meter reads 201,670 cubic feet.
