Page 200 - Water Loss Control

174 Cha pte r T w e l v e

patterns using tables such as Table 12.2. Consumption data should be carefully tracked
on a monthly and annual basis in order to detect data anomalies as they become evi-
dent. A table similar to Table 12.2 can be constructed showing monthly consumption
totals broken down by meter size.

12.3 Flow Measurement Capabilities of Customer Water Meters
In general, meter accuracy is influenced by two principal factors: the physical perfor-
mance of the flow sensing mechanism of the meter, and the appropriate sizing of the
meter to fit the customer’s consumption profile.
Water utilities provide service to a wide variety of customers, from residential ser-
vice (5/8-in meters typically in the United States) to large industrial sites (up to 12-in
meters). Many accurate and reliable meter types exist to measure flows in this variety
of settings; each with distinctive features or advantages in performance. Displacement
type meters, as shown in Fig. 12.1, are most common for smaller, residential service.
Compound, turbine, or propeller meters are employed to serve large commercial or
industrial connections larger than 1 in. Turbine meters are designed to accurately
record flows that occur steadily in a moderate to high rate of flow. Compound meters
are designed with two registers to record flows that alternate between high and low

FIGURE 12.1 Displacement meter for residential service. (Source: Neptune Technology Group.)