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6 Why Maintenance is Important
Introduction
Accuracy Test
28
The water meter is a cash register for the utility. Like any mechanical device, a meter
wears in such a way that its accuracy decreases. This dip in accuracy directly correlates to
a dip in revenue since all of the water moving through the meter is not being captured. The
impact of revenue loss with accuracy loss is more profound with large meters since they
tend to move more water.
This is why creating and maintaining an efficient and reliable meter maintenance program
is important for any utility. The end result is meter accuracy effects your bottom line.
Meter performance is driven by three main components:
•
Water Quality
•
Usage or Throughput
•
Routine Maintenance
If a meter is installed in an area where the water has lots of sediment or debris, then
maintenance is required more frequently. Similarly, if a meter has a high amount of usage,
then routine maintenance can be performed more frequently for two reasons.
•
The meter is moving more water which means it is generating move revenue.
•
Like any mechanical device, the more the mechanical components of the meter are
used the more frequently they need maintenance.
Finally, just like your car or any mechanical device, the more routine maintenance
performed the better the overall performance of the meter.
The best way to decide if a meter needs maintenance is by an accuracy test. Typically, a
meter's maintenance schedule is based on size, but any meter that sees a large amount of
usage requires maintenance more frequently. Below are some generic guidelines for
performing a meter accuracy test. For more information, consult the TRU/FLO Field
Testing Guide or AWWA's M6 manual.
To run an accuracy test, complete the following steps.
1
First, run an accuracy test at low flow. Typically, as a meter deteriorates from use, the
low flow accuracy is the first thing to decline.
TRU/FLO Compound Meter Installation and Maintenance Guide
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