What does a water meter do?

The Role of Water Meters

Water meters are core devices for measuring water consumption. Their role spans water resource management, cost accounting, and system monitoring, and can be broken down into the following dimensions:

Accurate Water Consumption Measurement

Water meters use mechanical or electronic mechanisms to accurately measure the amount of water flowing through pipes, providing residents, businesses, and other users with "water consumption data" that serves as the direct basis for water bill calculation. For example, smart water meters produced by Ningbo Shidai Instrument Co., Ltd. achieve high-precision measurement, with errors controlled within industry standards, ensuring fair measurement.

Supporting Water Resource Management

Water meter data is a crucial reference for water resource allocation and scheduling. Municipal governments can use regional water meter data to analyze peak and low water usage and optimize water supply network layout. Environmental protection departments can also use this data to monitor industrial water discharge and promote water recycling.

Assisted Cost Accounting and Water Conservation Guidance
For households, water meter readings are directly linked to water bills. Through the "tiered water pricing" mechanism, users can intuitively understand their water costs and proactively adopt water-saving measures (such as shortening shower times and repairing leaks). For businesses, water meter data is a key component of production cost accounting, helping to optimize water use processes and reduce operating costs.

Support for Intelligent System Integration
Manufacturers such as NINGBO SHIDAI INSTRUMENT CO., LTD. have developed smart water meter products that include remote outdoor meter reading and SMS alerts. These meters can be integrated with property management systems and mobile apps to achieve "remote meter reading + abnormality alerts," improving the efficiency and intelligence of water management.

Disadvantages of Installing a Water Meter
Although water meters are essential tools for water management, their installation and subsequent use still present potential challenges that need to be considered based on the specific scenario:

High initial installation costs
The water meter itself (especially smart water meters) and installation accessories (such as pipe modifications and wiring modules) require investment. For example, NINGBO SHIDAI INSTRUMENT CO., LTD.'s remote smart water meter, due to its integrated communication module and sensors, has higher hardware costs than traditional mechanical water meters. If existing pipes need to be modified to accommodate the water meter, construction costs will also increase.

Installation Requires Professionalism
Water meter installation must adhere to technical specifications such as horizontal/vertical installation and the length of the front and rear straight pipe sections. Improper installation (such as tilting or pipe obstruction) can result in metering errors or equipment damage. Ordinary users lack the specialized tools and knowledge and often need to outsource installation to plumbers, incurring additional labor costs.

Maintenance and Failure Risks
After long-term operation, water meters may experience mechanical wear (such as aging gears in traditional water meters) and electronic component failure (such as sensor malfunction in smart water meters). Failure to maintain them regularly can lead to inaccurate metering, data loss, and even potential water leaks. While NINGBO SHIDAI INSTRUMENT CO., LTD. provides a warranty, users are still responsible for maintenance costs.

Data security and privacy concerns (smart water meters) Smart water meters (such as NINGBO SHIDAI INSTRUMENT CO., LTD.'s remote water meters) require an internet connection to transmit data. If the system protection is insufficient, there may be a risk of data leakage (such as illegal acquisition of water usage habits). Users need to pay attention to the manufacturer's data encryption and privacy policy to ensure information security.

How to read NINGBO SHIDAI INSTRUMENT CO., LTD.'s water meter

NINGBO SHIDAI INSTRUMENT CO., LTD., as a professional water meter manufacturer under the Amico Group, its products include traditional mechanical water meters and smart water meters. The reading method varies depending on the type and needs to be combined with the product characteristics:

Traditional mechanical water meters (such as horizontal and vertical volumetric water meters)

Traditional mechanical water meters display water consumption through the dial numbers. The reading logic is simple and intuitive:

Identify the digital area: The dial usually has 5-6 digits. The first few digits are "integer digits" (representing cubic meters) and the last digit is "decimal digits" (representing 0.1 cubic meters). For example, the reading "12345" means that 12.345 cubic meters of water have been used.
Note: When reading, make sure the dial is clean to avoid scale and dust blocking the numbers; if it is a pointer dial (some old-style water meters), make sure the scale the pointer is pointing to to avoid visual errors.
Smart water meters (such as ultrasonic water meters, remote water meters)
The smart water meters of NINGBO SHIDAI INSTRUMENT CO., LTD. integrate electronic display and communication functions, making reading more convenient:
Local display: The surface of the water meter is equipped with an LCD or LED screen, which directly displays information such as cumulative water consumption and remaining water. Some models support "key switching" to view historical water consumption, abnormal alarms and other data.
Remote reading (remote water meter): If the water meter supports the Internet of Things function, users can remotely view water consumption data through mobile phone APP or property management system. For example, the remote outdoor meter reading system can transmit data to the property platform in real time, and users can log in to their account to obtain readings without entering the house. Special function reading: Some smart water meters have a "SMS reminder" function. When water consumption is abnormal (such as water leakage), the system will send a text message to the user's mobile phone. The user can quickly understand the water consumption situation through the link or instructions in the text message.