Smart Water Meters: Pros and Cons

The use of smart water meters is becoming more common as owners and municipalities attempt to find ways to cut down on water waste. Smart water meters can record data on when and how much water is used, which can help identify leaks and conserve resources. However, the cost of installing and maintaining smart meters can be prohibitive for some building owners and developers. This blog post will explore the pros and cons of using smart water meters.

What Are Smart Water Meters?

A smart water meter is a building-integrated sensor and software system that captures water consumption data at the building level. Building owners and developers are adopting the technology as a means to reduce water consumption, lower water bills, and promote sustainability. Smart water meters typically include a web-based interface that allows users to view and monitor their building’s water usage in real-time.

The data collected by smart water meters can also be used to detect leaks, optimize irrigation systems, and track water consumption trends over time. In addition to reducing water consumption, smart water meters can also help building owners save money on their water bills. By collecting data on water usage, building owners can identify opportunities for cost savings and water conservation.

How Do Smart Water Meters Work?

Smart water meters are becoming increasingly common as developers and engineers look for ways to be more efficient with water usage. Developers and engineers can work together to create a building water management system that will help reduce overall water usage.

One way to do this is by using smart meters. Smart meters can track the water usage all the way down to each appliance and fixture in a building, if desired.  More often, smart meters are deployed for different categories of water usage, like HVAC systems, general plumbing or kitchens, for example.  This information is then transmitted to a central database, which can be analyzed to identify areas of high water usage, or to detect a rapid change in any particular category being monitored. By understanding how and where water is being used, developers and engineers can make changes to the design of the building that will lead to reduced water usage.

In addition, smart meters can be used for billing purposes so that tenants are charged for the water they use. When tenants water usage is monitored and billed, tenants take a greater interest in conserving water than if they do not have to account for and pay for the water they use.  As a result, smart meters provide a valuable tool for developers and owners looking to reduce their buildings’ overall water usage.

Pros of Using Smart Water Meters

Water Conservation

The water industry is under pressure to implement smart water meters to reduce water consumption and save money. In the United Kingdom, for example, the government has targeted reducing water usage by 15% by 2050. Smart water meters are one way to help achieve this goal.  Smart water meter devices can measure how much water is being used in real-time and provide developers and engineers with valuable data about how to make buildings more water efficient.

Water Leak Detection

Another advantage of using smart water meter devices is that they can help to detect water leaks. This is especially important for engineers and building owners responsible for extensive facilities. Smart water meters are equipped with sensors that can detect any changes in water pressure. If there is a sudden pressure drop, there is likely a leak somewhere in the system. By quickly identifying the leak’s source, building owners can avoid costly damage to their buildings. By monitoring consumption rates, leaks can also be detected. If a particular system or category of water consumption is suddenly using more water than expected based on historical data or calculations, even a small leak can be identified and corrected quickly.

Reduces Your Carbon Footprint

One of the most important ways to reduce a structure’s carbon footprint is to reduce water consumption. That’s another place where smart water meters come in. These digital devices help track water usage in real-time and identify areas where water conservation measures can be implemented. This is particularly valuable on metered hot water systems, where not only is the water wasted, but also the energy and carbon used to heat that water.  In other words, by using less water, buildings can save energy and reduce their overall environmental impact. And that’s good news for everyone.

Cons of Using Smart Water Meters

Deployment and Maintenance Costs

The biggest con of using smart water meters is the higher deployment and maintenance costs. The meters must be regularly calibrated and inspected for accuracy, which can also be costly. While smart water meters offer many benefits, their higher costs have prevented them from being widely adopted.

Interoperability Issues

Interoperability issues need to be considered when using smart water meter devices, particularly in a campus or multi-tenant environment.  Different manufacturers use different protocols to communicate with their smart water meters. This can make it difficult for engineers and building owners to collect data from all of the devices in their buildings or campuses, unless they are all of the same manufacturer.  This can create a proprietary situation that further drives up the costs.

Power Wiring Challenges in Confined or Remote Locations

Another challenge while using smart water meter devices is the need to be connected to a power source to function, but in many cases, the best location for the meter is not always the most accessible place to run power wiring. This can be especially true in confined or remote locations.

As a result, it is crucial to work with experts who can advise on the best way to run power cabling to smart water meter devices. With proper planning and execution, the challenges of power cabling can be overcome, and the benefits of smart water meters can be realized.

Final Thoughts

Although smart water meters have many pros and cons, the benefits seem to outweigh the disadvantages for most building owners and developers of multi-tenant buildings.  They also make sense for multi-building campus situations, where the water distribution system is all under a single management.

Contact Schnackel Engineers to get started if you are curious about getting a smart water meter system deployed in your building. Our expert plumbing engineers can help you take advantage of this new technology or help you make an informed decision about whether or not to install one.