C150069 Feasibility Study

• Contract/PO #: C150069
• Contractor Name: Colorado State University
• Contract Type: MOU
• Water District: 0
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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Rcsidcntial Secondary Watcr Mctcrs - Rcscarch Proiect

3. Experience in developing, programming circuitry, installing, and calibrating a deflection
type meter from scratch

4. A brief look at the cost of filtration verses metering without filtration

2.7 Need for Additional Secondary Water Meter Study

The knowledge that has been gained thus far is very useful in providing direction for further
study. However, not enough information has been collected to explain how meters are affected
by unfiltered water and how these meters can be improved or how much the water should be
filtered. Not enough information has been collected to provide meter designers and
manufacturers with specific design constraints to develop a meter specific to residential
secondary water metering. According to meter engineers and distributors, the metering
industry has all the required technology and know-how to come up with an economical
secondary water meter. Most likely, this meter will be a modification of an available meter,
rather than a completely new design. Coming up with these modifications requires
specifications from the customer.

The following list summarizes specific needs for additional study.

1. An exhaustive list of all available types and brands of meters including newer
technologies like ultrasonic, electromagnetic, and the option of remote read

2. An analysis and/ or documentation of water quality in secondary systems

3. An analysis and documentation of how existing secondary water meters perform over
time in low quality water

4. An analysis of the effects of varying degrees of filtration on existing secondary water
meters

5. Secondary water meter specifications for a meter designer/manufacturer to develop a
new meter or improve upon an existing meter

Newer metering technologies such as ultrasonic and magnetic flow sensors are being sought
after by irrigation companies for an economical means of flow measurement. Private companies
in Australia have recently promoted low-cost magnetic and ultrasonic meters to replace the old
"Dethridge" water wheels that used to be popular in Victoria, Australia6. Stuart Sy1es of
Ca1Po1y San Luis Obisbo University recently stated in a report7, "There is a need to research
devices using these technologies for large-scale measurement, and to also investigate their
application on smaller turnouts."

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