When it comes to keeping track of lost water, there are two main approaches that can be taken.
The first is to make sure that measurements are taken in enough places to be able to get a full picture of what’s happening in the network and help plug any gaps in understanding how much water is being lost and why.
In remote areas, where it can be difficult to connect electronic flowmeters to a mains supply and retrieve data from those meters, developments in battery and renewable power and remote communications technologies are increasingly providing a solution.
The second approach concerns the choice of technology to measure flow. Depending on the application, different flow measurement techniques can be used, from constrictive methods such as flumes and weirs for open channel systems, to orifice, mechanical, ultrasonic or electromagnetic flowmeters in closed pipe systems. Many of these will have their own set of benefits and drawbacks that can affect their ability to measure accurately.
For operators looking for consistent accuracy, high reliability and stability and suitability for a range of installation environments, electromagnetic flowmeters can present the answer. Compared to other flowmeter types, electromagnetic flowmeters offer greatly enhanced accuracy and repeatability throughout their operational life, with uncertainty of ±1 % reading or better. With no moving parts, they do not suffer from problems with wear and tear, minimizing maintenance and requiring no upstream strainers to filter sediment. A choice of flow primary linings offers added protection against high sediment flows, with users able to choose from a variety of materials, including ceramic linings for particularly abrasive flows.
The ability of electromagnetic flowmeters to better handle distorted velocity profiles also means that the amount of piping upstream and downstream of the meter is minimized, which can greatly reduce the time and cost of installation.