Impact of intermittent supply on water meter accuracy

Abstract

Supply interruptions are a common occurrence in water systems and are particularly prevalent in developing countries. During the system filling, the air that entered into the pipes when the supply was closed is expelled through any fissures including service pipes. When a meter is installed, the airflow can cause inaccuracies, over-reading, and reliability issues. This paper investigates experimentally the impact of the airflow on water meter performance during filling by means of a laboratory set-up, using pipes with diameters comparable to those of a real water system. The impact of the airflow on the accuracy and reliability of the water meters is discussed and the potential for over-reading is estimated.