1. Measure Today. Ensure Tomorrow.
Ultrasonic Water Meter
– The Future for Residential Water Metering
Measure Today. Ensure Tomorrow.

2. Agenda Mechanical Water Meters Ultrasonic Water Meters
Types
Performance Limitations
Effects of Wear
Ultrasonic Water Meters
Benefits
Technology
Applications
Questions and Answers

3. Mechanical Water Meters Include:
Positive Displacement Technology
Oscillating Piston
Nutating Disc
Velocity Technology
Multi Jet
Single Jet

4. Nutating Disc Water Meter
Picture from Omega Flow and Level Handbook

5. Oscillating Piston Water Meter
Picture from Omega Flow and Level Handbook

6. Single Jet Water Meter

7. Multi Jet Water Meter

8. Benefits of Mechanical Meters
Proven Technology
Widely Accepted and Trusted in the Industry
Technology has Evolved and Improved Over more than 100 Years
Several Types Can Be Rebuilt ‐ Extending their Useful Life

9. Disadvantages of Mechanical Meters
Moving parts – Wear and Tear
Regular re-calibration is required (5years)
Maintenance Is Required
Prone to Tamping, i.e., magnetic tampering on register
Particulates in Water Can Cause Problems
Calcium in Water Can Cause Problems
Significant Pressure Loss
Correct Sizing is Very Important

10. The following slides are for Low Flow analysis
Inherent Low Flow Performance Limitations
Accuracy Relies on Close Tolerances that are Subject to Wear
Accuracy Degrading Over Time
The following slides are for Low Flow analysis

11. ¾” Mechanical Meter Accuracy at Low Flow
Poor Low Flow Performance!
Source: Apparent Losses Caused By Meter Inaccuracies at Ultralow Flows, Richards et.al, AWWA Journal, June 2010

12. Implications for Water Conservation
• You Can’t Count What You Can’t Measure • Even the Best AMI System Can’t Detect Leaks Below a Meter’s Lowest Flow Sensitivity • A Leak of 0.05 GPM (1/20th GPM) amounts to 39 Teaspoons, or about 0.8 Cups per Minute • This is Not Just a “Drip” Every Few Minutes

13. Slow Leak, Big Loss
0.05 GPM is 2,160 Gallons over 30 Days, or 25,920 Gallons per Year from ONE meter • Across 10,000 Meters, this could amount to 259,200,000 Gallons per Year (795 Acre Feet) • How Many Meters Have Leaks at or Below 0.05 GPM? WE DON’T REALLY KNOW BECAUSE THE MECHANICAL METERS CANNOT MEASURE THESE FLOWS – EVEN WHEN NEW!

14. What We Are Sure
• AWWA States That 16% of a Meter’s Usage Occurs at Low Flows (Less Than 1 GPM) • Mechanical Meters Measure Only A Small Percentage of Flow Below 1/4 GPM – Even When New • [Unmeasured Flow] Results in Significant Revenue Loss for the Utility
Source: Apparent Losses Caused By Meter Inaccuracies at Ultralow Flows, Richards et.al, AWWA Journal, June 2010

15. Sources of Non‐Revenue Water
AWWA Standard Water Balance

16. Apparent Losses From Meters
Based on test studies of anonymous water utilities, typical average customer meter under registration is about 5 to 6 percent.
Graph Source: Apparent Losses Caused By Meter Inaccuracies at Ultralow Flows, Richards et.al, AWWA Journal, June 2010

17. Apparent Losses From Meters
Based on test studies of anonymous water utilities, typical average customer meter under registration is about 5 to 6 percent.
Graph Source: Apparent Losses Caused By Meter Inaccuracies at Ultralow Flows, Richards et.al, AWWA Journal, June 2010

18. Agenda Mechanical Water Meters Ultrasonic Water Meters
Types
Performance Limitations
Effects of Wear
Ultrasonic Water Meters
Benefits
Technology
Applications
Questions and Answers

19. How Does Ultrasonic Water Meter Work
- Based on Transit-time Technology
This technology is similar to the following:
All of our ultrasonic water meters are based on transit-time technology. This technology is proven to be the best choice for accurate and reliable flow measurement.
The working principle of a ultrasonic water meter is very simple. It is similar to the case that two boats from the opposite banks traveling across a river. When the water in river does not move, the two boats take the same amount of time arriving to the opposite bank. However, if the water flows, the boat traveling against the flow will spend more time to reach its opposite bank than the one traveling along the flow. The travel time difference is directly related to the water flow velocity. The bigger the travel time difference the bigger the velocity.
The boat traveling against flow takes longer time to reach to its opposite bank than the one travels along the flow.
Travel time difference is directly related to river flow velocity.

20. Each transducer sends a sound pulse towards the other.
To measure flow in a pipe, a pair of ultrasonic transducers are installed: D
Each transducer sends a sound pulse towards the other.
The pulse traveling downstream takes less time than the one travelling upstream.
The travel time difference of the two pulses are proportional to the flowrate:
Similarly, two transducers are installed on the opposite side of a pipe. One on the upstream, another on the downstream. They send sound pulses towards each other.
The sound pulse traveling downstream e.g., along the flow, travels faster than the one traveling upstream. Thus, its transit-time is smaller than the upstream pulse. The transit-time difference is directly proportional to flow velocity.
The electronic console uses advanced digital signal processing technology to accurately measure the transit-time difference. It then derives the flow velocity from the transit-time difference together with flow dynamics formula. Accordingly, the flow rate is computed by multiplying the velocity with pipe cross-section area.
Q ~ Tup-Tdn

21. Reflector-Based Sensor for High Sensitivity
For Small Size Pipe:
Reflector-Based Sensor for High Sensitivity
V > 0
With flow, red pulse travels faster than green pulse, thus, takes less time to complete the trip.
The travel time difference is proportional to flowrare

22. Patented Sensor design boosts system performance:
Convex reflector surface reduces risk of particle deposition.
Internal design absorbs multi-mode reflection.
Spire Metering uses its patented sensor technology for this product.
The ultrasonic sensor is optimized so to provide pure and strong ultrasonic signal. Multimode interference is reduced to minimum.
A pure and strong ultrasonic signal increases measurement accuracy and stability.
Pure/strong signal is obtained.
Guarantees increased accuracy and stability.

23. ULTRASONIC COLD WATER METER
Smart
Digital
NSF61-G approved
Cutting-Edge Technology
Designed for the Future
Idea for submetering
No moving parts to wear and tear.
Low-lead brass body, robust
Maintenance-free/no annual calibration required.
Leakage detection and alarm
Tamper-proof design.
No air inside of the meter. Thus, no humidity or condensed water to blur the display
No moving parts to wear and tear.
Maintenance-free. No annual calibration required.
Tamper-proof design.

24. ULTRASONIC COLD WATER METER
Smart
Digital
NSF61-G approved
Cutting-Edge Technology
Designed for the Future
Idea for residential metering
Built-in RF
Meet AWWA C700 standard
No moving parts to wear and tear.
Maintenance-free. No annual calibration required.
Tamper-proof design.

25. Leakage Detection In Residential Property
Each domestic meter is able to detect small water leakage.
When leakage is detected, water meter sends alarm to data center promptly.
Spire’s Ultrasonic Water Meter is designed for this!
Count each drop

26. More ADVANTAGES … Wide dynamic range Pipe burst detection and alarm
A lifetime of accuracy so the tenant pays for what they consumes. T
Low pressure drop. Saves pumping cost.
Smart interface ready for automatic meter reading (AMR/AMI)

27. Comparison – ¾” Meter Accuracy at Low Flow
Ultrasonic Water Meter Offers High Accuracy Over Wide Range, Even at Low Flow!
Graph Source: Apparent Losses Caused By Meter Inaccuracies at Ultralow Flows, Richards et.al, AWWA Journal, June 2010

28. Comparison – ¾” Meter Accuracy at Full Range

29. Comparison – ¾” Linearity

30. Comparison – Dynamic Range
Mechanical (AMCO C700)
Ultrasonic (Spire 280W-D) ¾”
120
200 1”
100
In fact, ultrasonic water meter has much larger dynamic range than shown in its spec.

31. Comparison – Longevity
Ultrasonic Water Meter Is Accurate Even 20 Years Later!

32. Ultrasonic Water Meter Can Detect Small Leakage!
LEAKAGE DETECTION
Ultrasonic Water Meter Can Detect Small Leakage!
Similar technology with cold water meter, but designed for hot water.

33. Utah Water Research Laboratory Study
“Reduction of apparent losses caused by meter inaccuracies at low flows can result in substantial increases in revenue for a utility.”
“Additionally, increased meter accuracy will allow for more equitable billing of customers.”
Richards, Johnson and Barfuss; Utah Water Research Laboratory 33

34. Conservation and Revenue
Ultrasonic Technology Offers a Win‐Win for Utilities, Consumers, and the Environment.
They Can Reduce Apparent Losses From Meters, Allowing Utilities to Bill for More of the Water Actually Delivered
They Can Help Eliminate the Smallest Leaks
They Can Pay for Themselves in a Few Years
They Deliver More Information Than Ever Before
Environmentally Friendly Composition 34

35. Conservation and Revenue
Ultrasonic Technology Offers a Win‐Win for Utilities, Consumers, and the Environment.
They Can Reduce Apparent Losses From Meters, Allowing Utilities to Bill for More of the Water Actually Delivered
They Can Help Eliminate the Smallest Leaks
They Can Pay for Themselves in a Few Years
They Deliver More Information Than Ever Before
Environmentally Friendly Composition 35

36. AMR/AMI Ready
Ultrasonic Water Meter Has Built-in AMR/AMI Feature. Easy for AMR/AMI Integration.
This is a typical topology of a fixed wireless AMI network.
Wireless Concentrator reads data from endpoints using wireless M-Bus protocol.
Wireless Concentrator sends data to data center through GSM/GPRS wireless network.
It also saves data to its large non-volatile memory.
Data center AMR software collects automatically.
Billing software makes the billing process easy and efficient 36

37. Conclusions Mechanical Meters Are Still a Viable Solution
– They Have Served Us Well for Over 100 Years
New Technologies Available Today Offer Compelling Financial and Ecological Benefits
They Compliment AMI System Deployments but Offer Many Benefits Independent of AMI
Utilities Should Explore and Understand the Potential of These Meter Technologies 37

38. Agenda Mechanical Water Meters Ultrasonic Water Meters
Types
Performance Limitations
Effects of Wear
Ultrasonic Water Meters
Benefits
Technology
Applications
Questions and Answers

39. … A Global Leader in Flow & Energy Management Solutions …
THANK YOU!
Located just outside Boston near cutting edge technology companies.
Leaders in design, development, and production of flowmeters, water meters, BTU meters, and AMR/AMI systems.
Supplier to Siemens, Honeywell, JCI, NASA, GE, and more!
Massachusetts, USA
… A Global Leader in Flow & Energy Management Solutions …