Water management and water measurement are the terms of the decade. As a part of the world we live in, we cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the rising need for saving and managing water resources. To ease the process there are multiple tools that can help water managers incorporate strategies across different sectors, and just as many instruments that will aid implement these strategies.

Water auditing through sophisticated software and devices that can detect and report even minor water wastage or tampering is the way forward. The following are some of the modern water measuring tools that might be game-changers in increasing company revenues.

Flow Meter

A flow meter is a device used to measure the mass or volume of liquid or gas. Flow meters are referred to by many names, such as liquid meter, flow gauge, flow rate sensor, flow indicator, etc. depending on the particular industry. The flow sensor or flow meter monitors the linear or non-linear rate of fluid flow.

Flow meters can be categorised into various types based on their operating principle. There are at least 20 types of flowmeters, such as mass flow meters, electromagnetic flow meters, turbine flow meters and ultrasonic flow meters.

Digital Flow Meter

As opposed to Mechanical or analog flow meters, Digital Flow Meters have a digital display or use telemetry to conveniently measure volumetric or mass flow rate.

The two main types of digital flowmeters are ultrasonic and electromagnetic flowmeters. They excel at remaining stable despite position and pressure variation.

The excess or loss is easily evaluated by observing fluctuations from the set value. Digital Flowmeters are clearly the future and are increasingly mandated by the government.

Tamper Proof Digital Flow Meter

Tamper Proof Digital Flowmeter is a unique device that, unlike regular flowmeters, can detect unauthorised manipulation. It is designed to measure water consumption while managing both hardware and software level water meddling.

The meters are either battery operated or UPS powered with the provision of power off detection. The metering data is recorded in the meter even if the telemetry system is off due to the power supply.

The meter and telemetry system have a mechanical and electronic sealing arrangement. Any breach of the meter or system enclosure results in damage to the tag.

It is best suited for groundwater or municipal water consumption monitoring or if the third party has asked for data and reports.

Telemetry

Telemetry is the computerized recording and transmission of data from inaccessible or remote sources to an IT system in a distinct location for monitoring and analysis. Telemetry data can be rerouted using radio, GSM, ultrasonic, infrared, cable, or satellite, depending on the application. Telemetry is used in a plethora of applications such as smart ACs, telemetry vehicle tracking, etc. Even our phones are an example of telemetry. A telemetry monitoring system for flowmeters provides the ability to collect data from distant or inaccessible points and transmit it to receptors for monitoring. Smart tracking of the designs makes it easier to identify early design decisions that don't scale when the application becomes more customized.

Piezometer

Piezometers are pressure sensor devices that measure the stress of fluid or any property related to it.

Construction work necessitates knowledge of underground water flow and the load- bearing capacity of the soil. It can gauge the depth or pressure of groundwater in boreholes and is also known as a pore pressure meter due to its common use in monitoring pore water pressure in the soils, gravel fills, and concrete structures.

Digital Water Level Recorder (DWLR)

DWLR is a unique combination of a piezometer, telemetry device, data logger and user interface. A digital water-level recorder is a compact unit that is installed on a platform constructed over a stilling well. A data logger can be easily attached to a wellhead, stream, or other installation with standard hardware. Included GUI software allows data to be exported to a PC or laptop wirelessly. It is useful in measuring groundwater levels and monitoring the aquifer.

Automatic Water Level Recorder (AWLR)

An AWLR uses radar or ultrasonic sensors coupled with telemetry to give us an accurate reading of surface water levels in lakes, rivers, etc.

If you are looking for equipment that would help you measure long-term water level fluctuations, especially research-level quality measurement at inaccessible locations then this device would suit your needs. It even has a data logger that records the variation in water level at user-selected intervals with the date and time stamps.

It is used in recording the water levels in streams, streams, lakes, trenches and dams. The recorder is strong and appropriate for transport under field conditions and safeguarded against barometrical changes. This automatic device makes it more user-friendly and hassle-free water monitoring is ensured.

Ultrasonic Flow Meter

An ultrasonic flow meter is a meter that uses ultrasound to assess liquid velocity to calculate the amount of liquid flow. An ultrasonic flow meter can be built by combining upstream and downstream transducers, a sensor pipe, and a reflector. They work on the principle of transmission of vibrations through the fluid. They operate at frequencies above the audible range(25 kHz), avoiding noise pollution and giving more accurate measurements. They are an excellent choice for high-pressure, high-stream applications like gaseous petrol pipelines. Radar, Doppler velocity, ultrasonic clamp-on, and ultrasonic level ultrasonic flow meters are all available on the market.

Electromagnetic Flow Meter

Electromagnetic flowmeters are sometimes known as magnetic flowmeters. The
Electromagnetic is a flow measuring Faraday’s law of magnetic induction to measure fluid flow. It reads the voltage across the liquid induced by its flow through a magnetic field.

The meter can measure the EMF delivered when conductive fluid trails through the meter-made magnetic field. The device shows the immediate response to alternation in flow, providing a wide linear range. The range setting can be optimised. It can also measure backflow without any additional pressure drop. It can be of excellent use in industries dealing with milk, juices, sewage, wastewater, and slurries.

The lack of moving parts in the device makes it an ideal fit for Municipal or Industrial water treatment plants. Flow meters have been widely used to measure the volumetric flow rate of electrically conductive liquids and slurries. Listed above are the common water measuring instruments used for surface water measurements, pipe flow, and groundwater measurements. Small systems can conserve their resources and improve their long-term sustainability by using these tools for frequent auditing, along with intervention and evaluation.

Read More: Science Behind Flow Measurement