Design Article
Smart meters tackle water conservation
Gert Skriver, Kamstrup
12/10/2012 5:31 PM EST
Standard communication
Regions and markets differ greatly with respect to meter reading and the placement of water meters. It is often a matter of tradition rather than deliberation.
The MULTICAL 21 therefore uses a standardized wireless communication, Wireless M-Bus, which is interoperable with other household meters and can be integrated into mesh networks. The data package transmitted as one-way communication every 16 seconds contains Current meter reading, Meter reading on the first day of this month, List of active info codes, and List of info codes which have been active within the latest 30 days.
Intelligent alert system
Info codes are an alert system on some of the most common problems in water distribution. The info code ‘Leak’ is a notification that the meter within a 24 h period has not registered at least one hour with zero consumption. The info code ‘Burst’ signals an excessive flow, which may be caused by a pipe burst. Other very important info codes are ‘Reverse’ indicating a backflow of water, which can give an early warning that the drinking water is being contaminated, and ‘Tamper’ indicating that the meter has been tampered with.
Info codes and alerts lever the water meter into a new role as a tool for analysis and trouble shooting. The utility will have a number of possibilities for settling customer disputes and for optimizing the supply network when for example leaks can be quickly detected and repaired.
Via an optical eye on the front it is even possible to access data loggers and read out historic data. The quick overview of historic consumption data enables a precise mapping of consumption patterns and facilitates a more customer oriented counseling on water consumption. The data logger shows monthly data 36 months and daily data 460 days back in time.
Award winning water meter
The MULTICAL 21 water meter has been created in cooperation with the Danish design consultancy design-people. The philosophy of the design is to present advanced and innovative functionality in a simple exterior that plays down the complexity and increases the user-friendliness. This philosophy resulted in the prestigious “iF Product Design Award 2012” and in the “Smart Water Metering Innovation of the Year Award 2012”.
Next: In-home display
Regions and markets differ greatly with respect to meter reading and the placement of water meters. It is often a matter of tradition rather than deliberation.
The MULTICAL 21 therefore uses a standardized wireless communication, Wireless M-Bus, which is interoperable with other household meters and can be integrated into mesh networks. The data package transmitted as one-way communication every 16 seconds contains Current meter reading, Meter reading on the first day of this month, List of active info codes, and List of info codes which have been active within the latest 30 days.
Intelligent alert system
Info codes are an alert system on some of the most common problems in water distribution. The info code ‘Leak’ is a notification that the meter within a 24 h period has not registered at least one hour with zero consumption. The info code ‘Burst’ signals an excessive flow, which may be caused by a pipe burst. Other very important info codes are ‘Reverse’ indicating a backflow of water, which can give an early warning that the drinking water is being contaminated, and ‘Tamper’ indicating that the meter has been tampered with.
Info codes and alerts lever the water meter into a new role as a tool for analysis and trouble shooting. The utility will have a number of possibilities for settling customer disputes and for optimizing the supply network when for example leaks can be quickly detected and repaired.
Via an optical eye on the front it is even possible to access data loggers and read out historic data. The quick overview of historic consumption data enables a precise mapping of consumption patterns and facilitates a more customer oriented counseling on water consumption. The data logger shows monthly data 36 months and daily data 460 days back in time.
Award winning water meter
The MULTICAL 21 water meter has been created in cooperation with the Danish design consultancy design-people. The philosophy of the design is to present advanced and innovative functionality in a simple exterior that plays down the complexity and increases the user-friendliness. This philosophy resulted in the prestigious “iF Product Design Award 2012” and in the “Smart Water Metering Innovation of the Year Award 2012”.
Next: In-home display
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JmmWill
12/11/2012 12:18 PM EST
I like the ultrasound basis. I am electrosensitive and would be tortured if the smart meter were using radio communications which penetrated to my living areas.
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R Sweeney
12/19/2012 4:45 PM EST
So I guess you live in an area without radio and TV service, right? And you don't use a computer which emits an incredible amount of RF noise.
Oh, wait.
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JmmWill
12/11/2012 12:22 PM EST
OOPS! "The MULTICAL 21 therefore uses a standardized wireless communication, Wireless M-Bus, which is interoperable with other household meters and can be integrated into mesh networks."
I guess if I were bothered by this wireless electromagnetic feature, I'd have to use a lawsuit to force a different communication principle.
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green_is_now
12/12/2012 7:54 PM EST
Tiny bubbles...
How do they effect the acuracy?
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GPBobby
12/13/2012 7:54 AM EST
This is an awful lot of hype over very little. Sure, it's a more accurate and possibly cost effective durable meter which can save reading costs, but water is not electricity. You have very few quick fixes to cut usage. A goldfish display on my wall telling me I just flushed my water saver toilet is a so-what. Data is only useful to the extent it can alter outcomes and you already know what you can do to conserve water - new toilets, timed sink faucets, the newest washing machine, and go back to using ice cube trays (which could result in increased electricity consumption).
Most inside water is used (wasted) simply as a vehicle to transport sewage. Let's put our engineering talent and emphasis towards the source of the problem, not on fancy ways to tell us what we already know.
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WKetel
12/13/2012 3:19 PM EST
GPBobby certainly has a very good grip! A whole lot of water is indeed just used to make the sewers flow. But that could also be done using quite dirty water. In this "Greater Detroit" area it is common for leaking water mains to account for over half of the water flow, so it would be quite worthwhile to correct that problem.
So how about, instead of just boosting the prices for all, if water rates are set to follow consumption, so that the larger users pay more for gallon than the smaller users. And then find some other means to make our drains flush correctly.
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WKetel
12/13/2012 3:20 PM EST
GPBobby certainly has a very good grip! A whole lot of water is indeed just used to make the sewers flow. But that could also be done using quite dirty water. In this "Greater Detroit" area it is common for leaking water mains to account for over half of the water flow, so it would be quite worthwhile to correct that problem.
So how about, instead of just boosting the prices for all, if water rates are set to follow consumption, so that the larger users pay more for gallon than the smaller users. And then find some other means to make our drains flush correctly.
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docdivakar
1/1/2013 4:23 PM EST
A quick scan of the article leads me to this conclusion: the author makes a point about the seriousness of world's current water resources status and then starts with a case for accurate metering of water (where such metering infrastructure exists!)... and then morphs into an infomercial about Kamstrup's product and the case for ultrasonic water meters. Some astute readers above (@GPBobby included) made really sensible comments... indeed some countries already use (as well as some hotels in USA) recycled water for toilets.
In much of the developing world where running water is still a luxury to many households, the payback from conservation using hitech meters at customer premises is a less attractive proposition. Bigger pay back comes from good management of existing water resources. This is certainly not to say consumer behaviour and payback is any less important but is a nonstarter for a discussion on smart water meters.
MP Divakar
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