Accuracy of In-Service Water Meters at Low and High Flow …

1 Accuracy of In-Service Water Meters at Low and High Flow Rates Subject Area: InfrastructureAccuracy of In-Service Water Meters at Low and High Flow Rates 2011 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS the Water Research FoundationThe Water Research Foundation (formerly Awwa Research Foundation or AwwaRF) is a member-supported, international , 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that sponsors research to enable Water utilities, public health agencies, and other professionals to provide safe and affordable drinking Water to Foundation s mission is to advance the science of Water to improve the quality of life. To achieve this mission, the Foundation sponsors studies on all aspects of drinking Water , including resources, treatment, distribution, and health effects. Funding for research is provided primarily by subscription payments from close to 1,000 Water utilities, consulting firms, and manufacturers in North America and abroad.

2 Additional funding comes from collaborative partnerships with other national and international organizations and the federal government, allowing for resources to be leveraged, expertise to be shared, and broad-based knowledge to be developed and disseminated. From its headquarters in Denver, Colorado, the Foundation s staff directs and supports the efforts of more than 800 volunteers who serve on the board of trustees and various committees. These volunteers represent many facets of the Water industry, and contribute their expertise to select and monitor research studies that benefit the entire drinking Water results of research are disseminated through a number of channels, including reports, the Web site, Webcasts, conferences, and periodicals. For its subscribers, the Foundation serves as a cooperative program in which Water suppliers unite to pool their resources.

3 By applying Foundation research findings, these Water suppliers can save substantial costs and stay on the leading edge of drinking Water science and technology. Since its inception, the Foundation has supplied the Water community with more than $460 million in applied research value. More information about the Foundation and how to become a subscriber is available on the Web at 2011 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS of In-Service Water Meters at Low and High Flow Rates Jointly sponsored by: Water Research Foundation6666 West Quincy Avenue, Denver, CO 80235-3098and Environmental Protection AgencyWashington by:Prepared by:Steven L. Barfuss, Michael C. Johnson, and Martilyn A. NeilsenUtah Water Research Laboratory8200 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322-8200 2011 Water Research Foundation.

4 ALL RIGHTS study was jointly funded by the Water Research Foundation (Foundation) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Cooperative Agreement No. X-83294801. The Foundation or EPA assume no responsibility for the content of the research study reported in this publication or for the opinions or statements of fact expressed in the report. The mention of trade names for commercial products does not represent or imply the approval or endorsement of the Foundation or EPA. This report is presented solely for informational 2011by Water Research FoundationALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or otherwise utilized without 978-1-60573-148-3 Printed in the 2011 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. v CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES.

5 Ix LIST OF FIGURES .. xiii FOREWORD .. xxvii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .. xxix EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .. xxxi Objectives .. xxxi New Meter Accuracies .. xxxi Meter Accuracies with Age, Wear and Throughput .. xxxi Background .. xxxii Approach .. xxxii Results/Conclusions .. xxxiii Applications/Recommendations .. xxxiv Research Partners .. xxxiv Participants .. xxxiv CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .. 1 Flow Metering .. 1 1 Benefits .. 1 Project 2 Meter Type Descriptions .. 2 Project Meter Selection 7 CHAPTER 2 METHODS AND MATERIALS .. 11 Project Overview .. 11 Database .. 17 Test Measurements .. 18 Flow Measurements .. 18 Evaporation Measurements .. 18 Odometer Readings .. 18 Other Measurements .. 19 Phase I: Preparation and Setup .. 20 Literature 20 Test Bench Preparation .. 20 Quality Control.

6 29 Meter Acquisition .. 31 Phase II: New Meter Tests .. 47 Test Procedures .. 47 Phase III: Laboratory Endurance Testing .. 49 2011 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. vi | Accuracy of In-Service Water Meters at Low and High Flow Rates Test Procedures .. 50 Phase III: Pulled Meter Testing .. 50 Test Procedures .. 51 Phase III: Particulate Testing .. 52 Preliminary Testing .. 53 Test Procedures .. 57 Project Limitations .. 59 Meter Sample Size .. 59 Meter Donations .. 59 Particulate Testing .. 60 CHAPTER 3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .. 61 Phase I: Literature Review .. 61 Previous Papers and Research .. 61 AWWA Standards .. 61 Summary of AWWA Standards .. 68 Identification of Existing Meter Types and Specifications.

7 70 Phase II/III: New Meter and Laboratory Endurance Tests .. 70 5/8x3/4-inch Meters .. 70 3/4-inch Meters .. 86 1-inch Meters .. 105 1 1/2-inch Meters .. 121 2-inch Meters .. 135 Phase III: Pulled Meter Tests .. 151 5/8x3/4-inch Meters .. 152 3/4-inch Meters .. 157 1-inch Meters .. 162 1 1/2-inch Meters .. 168 2-inch Meters .. 175 Phase III: Particulate Testing .. 177 5/8x3/4-inch Meters .. 177 Other Tests and Results .. 195 CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS .. 197 New Meter And Laboratory Endurance Test Conclusions .. 197 Phase III: Pulled Meter Test Conclusions .. 215 Phase III: Particulate Testing Conclusions .. 224 Other General Conclusions .. 229 Need for Further Research .. 229 APPENDIX A Accuracy AND ENDURANCE TESTING .. 231 Accuracy and Endurance Testing 5/8x3/4-inch Meters .

8 231 Accuracy and Endurance Testing 3/4-inch Meters .. 246 Accuracy and Endurance Testing 1-inch Meters .. 256 Accuracy and Endurance Testing 1 1/2-inch Meters .. 266 Accuracy and Endurance Testing 2-inch Meters .. 268 2011 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Contents | vii APPENDIX B PULLED METER DATA .. 271 Pulled meter Accuracy and disassembly 5/8x3/4-inch Meters .. 271 Pulled meter Accuracy and disassembly 3/4-inch Meters .. 280 Pulled meter Accuracy and disassembly 1-inch Meters .. 283 Pulled meter Accuracy and disassembly 1 1/2-inch Meters .. 287 Pulled meter Accuracy and disassembly 2-inch Meters .. 288 APPENDIX C PARTICULATE METER DATA .. 289 REFERENCES .. 301 ABBREVIATIONS .. 303 2011 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2011 Water Research Foundation.

9 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ix LIST OF TABLES Manufacturers of Meters purchased ..8 New Meters originally Final meter purchasing statistics ..33 New Meters purchased for particulate testing ..36 Pulled meter distribution ..41 Orlando Sensus SR Meters ..45 Orlando Sensus SRII Meters ..46 Summary of test measurement flow rates ..47 Test measurement times ..48 Throughput volumes for each meter size ..50 Sieve analysis for the course quartzite sand used in the preliminary testing ..54 Sieve analysis for the fine sand used in the preliminary testing ..54 AWWA test flow rates for 5/8x3/4-inch Meters ..58 C700 revision summary ..62 C701 revision summary ..64 C704 revision summary ..65 C708 revision summary ..65 C710 revision summary.

10 67 C712 revision summary ..68 C713 revision summary ..68 AWWA Accuracy standards for minimum flow rates (AWWA 1999), (AWWA 2005b), (AWWA 2002b) ..69 2011 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. x | Accuracy of In-Service Water Meters at Low and High Flow Rates AWWA Accuracy standards for normal flow rates (AWWA 1999), (AWWA 2005b), (AWWA 2002b) ..69 Summary of donated Meters ..152 5/8x3/4-inch Meters meeting the AWWA registry standard ..199 3/4-inch Meters meeting the AWWA registry standard ..201 1-inch Meters meeting the AWWA registry standard ..203 1 1/2-inch Meters meeting the AWWA registry standard ..205 2-inch Meters meeting the AWWA registry standard.