Water Meters
We have in stock a large selection of Water Meters available for immediate next day delivery. We can supply Concentric, Single-jet, Multi-jet and Woltmann Flanged meters sometimes referred to as Helix Water Meters. With the cost of water continually rising it makes good sense to monitor water consumption and to segment it accordingly. Secondary metering is a key component in any business environmental strategy. We also supply landlords and developers with metering solutions for monitoring separate flats and units. The Water Meters have all been approved to the following standards, 75/33/EEC, ISO4064. They can be installed either vertically or horizontally and the can handle water temperatures up to 30°C. Anti-mist dials come as standard so that the meters are easy to read. We would be pleased to answer any question that you may have about the products and can also advise you on the right connections to install into an existing pipeline. Please contact us for guidance.
Why Water Meters are Essential
Fresh Water
The two uses of fresh water are consumptive and non-consumptive (renewable). Consumptive water is that which is not immediately available for another use. Water losses due to evaporation and sub-surface seepage are known as consumptive. Water that is incorporated into products e.g. farm produce, is also known as consumptive.
Non-consumptive water is that which can be treated and returned as surface water e.g. sewage. Water that can be put to additional use is also known as non-consumptive.
Water Scarcity
The competition for water today is intense. Fifty years ago there were 3 billion people on the earth, consuming less food, and only using a third of the volume of water we currently use. Today’s population demands more vegetables and meat which need more water, which in turn has placed increased demands on the water industry and the use of biofuel crops. Current forecasts predict that the world’s population will be 9 billion in 2050. This will ultimately add pressure to the world’s already stretched water resources.
In 2007 the International Water Management Institute assessed the world’s water management in agriculture. It was found that a fifth of the world’s people, more than 1.2 billion, do not have enough water to meet all their demands – they suffer from physical water scarcity. The United Nations has also assessed that an additional 1.6 billion people live in an area suffering with economic water scarcity. This is the result of a lack of investment in water, or the inability of authorities to meet the demand for water.
In the future we will be able to produce enough food for the world’s population needs but this will result in crises in many parts of the globe, due to unsustainable production methods and environmental trends. Therefore, industry and all water users will have to find ways of using water much more efficiently and farmers will also have to increase productivity to meet the growing demands for food. Water irrigation is necessary for crop production, but also for increasing crop yield and producing more profitable crops.
The water supply is fixed, but the world’s population is growing and demand for food is increasing. Research is now taking place to find different ways of producing food with less water, using improved irrigation technologies and methods, agricultural water management, water monitoring and improving crop types.
A small but growing use of water in agriculture is Aquaculture. Freshwater commercial fisheries are also agricultural users of water.
Agricultural
Estimates state that nearly 70% of the world’s water is used for agricultural. But up to 35% of the water withdrawal is unsustainable.
Industrial
Estimates state that 22% of the world’s water is used for industrial purposes. The biggest industrial users are oil and ore refineries (which use water in chemical processes), power plants (where water is used for cooling or as a power source) and manufacturing plants.
Water is used in power generation. Hydropower produces electricity (hydroelectricity). This low cost, non-polluting, renewable energy source is generated when water drives a turbine connected to a generator.
Household
Estimates state that 8% of the world’s water is used for household purposes. These include bathing, cooking, drinking, sanitation and gardening. Every day, between two and five litres of water is needed per person for drinking water. It is estimated that each person requires approximately 50 litres a day (excluding water for gardens). Drinking water is that which can be consumed without causing immediate or long term harm, therefore the quality must be of a very high standard. This is known as potable water. Most developed countries supply high standard drinking water to households, commerce and industry, even though a very small amount is actually used for drinking or in food preparation.
Recreational
A small but increasing percentage of the world’s water is used for recreation. This water is mainly tied to reservoirs. Recreational water usage is known as non-consumptive. There is no clear evidence/reliable data to support claims that recreational irrigation has a noticeable effect on water resources e.g. golf courses and private gardens. Many golf courses opt to use primarily or exclusively treated effluent water, which has a small impact on the availability of what is called potable water (drinking water).
Whatever happens, water demand will go up and so will the requirement to monitor and meter our consumption.
