Intervention borne
pedagogy
21 October 2024

Metering environment

In the context of drinking water distribution, the delivery point is an essential element that groups together the meter and all the surrounding equipment required for its management.

Definition and challenges of the metering environment

When drinking water is conveyed from the public to the private domain, a metering system is installed alongside the household-to-mains water connection.

This set of equipment forms the metering environment and is used to:

  • Distribute water to the customer at the delivery point
  • Measure water consumption
  • Manage supplies to households and work carried out by operators

The metering environment is regularly exposed to actions by operators and customers, which is why it is important to choose high-quality, easy-to-use equipment to ensure that installations have a long service life.

Why is metering so fundamentally important?

It is of the utmost importance to meter water resources, for both economic and ecological reasons. Through metering, which enables the volume of water consumed to be monitored, customers are made more responsible for their use of the resource, and are billed more accurately in line with actual consumption. Accurate metering means savings on an individual scale, and even lower costs and improved performance on an industrial scale.

Metering can also serve as an indicator to help identify leaks more quickly, thereby preventing water wastage. Customers may notice a discrepancy between the volumes usually consumed and the volumes recorded by the meter. In this case, the meter reading can act as an "alarm signal" indicating that there is a problem on the network and that action needs to be taken.

Multi-comptage

The metering environment and equipment

We have seen the role that metering plays in the lives of customers. So, what about the metering environment?

Upstream of the meter, the valves and fittings provide the operator with a means of managing water supplies to households and maintenance operations by opening and closing the water supply. After the meter, the customer has access to cut off the water supply when work is being carried out, and an anti-pollution device protects the network from any backflow. All this equipment is then configured on supports, enclosures and other systems ready to accommodate the hydraulic products and the meter to create a ready-to-install metering station.

The metering environment consists of:

To find out more about our metering environment equipment, check out our dedicated page.

Water meter

The water meter marks the property boundary between the public and private domains. The equipment before the meter will be managed by the operator, whereas the equipment after the meter will come under the responsibility of the customer. There are various metering technologies:

  • Volumetric technology: the water drives a piston in a calibrated chamber and each revolution of the piston corresponds to a volume of water flowing through it.
  • Speed technology: The speed of the water (flow) rotates a turbine or propeller. Each revolution of the turbine/propeller corresponds to a volume of water flowing through it.
  • Electromagnetic technology: These electromagnetic meters work using Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction to measure the speed of the liquid.
  • Ultrasonic technology: These water meters use ultrasonic waves to measure the speed of the fluid.

The type of meter chosen depends on the application and on the hydraulic conditions.

Compteur d'eau

Water meter valves and fittings

Meter valves and fittings consist of the before-meter valve, which is used by the network operator to manage water distribution for households, and the after-meter check valve and valve. This is used by customers to manage the water supply to their home. There are many different valve configurations to suit to the specific requirements of the site:

  • Straight or elbow
  • Inlet/outlet sizes
  • Nominal diameter

And functions to make operation easier: lockable, tamper-proof or standard. There are innovations to simplify the installation and replacement of water meters. O-Link is particularly useful in confined spaces such as the meter environment.

Robinet de compteur

Anti-pollution system

The purpose of an anti-pollution device is to protect the drinking water network against any backflow of water from the private domain.

This is achieved by using both check valves and valves with integrated check valves, which have the advantage of taking up minimal space thanks to their dual function.

Antipollution

Rails

Rails are used to support the meter, thus making it easier to install the meter in the designated space. They limit the physical stress on the meter. They include the support for the valves and fittings. We supply 3 types of support:

  • Stainless steel rail
  • Polypropylene rail
  • Adjustable rail (Modula).
Rail

Boxes and manholes

The purpose of the box and manhole is to protect the metering system from frost and bad weather and to pinpoint the location of the water meter.
The meter box is installed on the property boundary, making it easily accessible and enabling work to be carried out above ground from the public domain. It also makes it easier for the customer to read the meter.

The meter manhole is buried under the pavement or in the garden, making it accessible in the public or private domain. This is the preferred solution for networks that are being refurbished or that are congested.

Manholes and boxes take advantage of the heat drawn from deep in the ground, thus improving their thermal insulation.

Reliability and Accuracy

We sell equipment for metering environments under the Sainte-Lizaigne, Hydroméca  and ADG brands.

Our meter box and compact manhole reflect exactly how our products are designed to make it easier for operators to carry out their work.

Advantages of the E-CUB box:

  • Excellent accessibility
  • Blends in perfectly with masonry or other enclosures
  • Dual metering option
  • Certified frost-resistance
  • Comes with the Origine France Garantie (Guaranteed French Origin) label
Borne E-cub

Advantages of the Isocourt+ compact manhole:

  • The meter can be fitted in a matter of seconds without the need for any tools
  • Head can be tilted to fit seamlessly into the finished ground surface
  • A range of models to cover all frost zones
  • Certified frost-resistance
Regard Isocourt+

Advantages of the DUO/TRIO/QUATRO manholes:

  • System pre-equipped with O-link, supplied ready to install
  • Ultracompact (Designed and engineered to minimise the footprint on pavements).
  • Easy to install without the need for any tools or machinery

Single access to multiple meters for simpler operations.

regard multi-comptage QUATRO

The materials used in the manufacture of our products are also important factors in determining their quality and reliability. As part of our approach to preserving Water resources and managing the infrastructure, we have adopted a policy of supplying products that will last over time.

Our metering rails are made of stainless steel or polypropylene, which makes them ideally suited to installation in harsh environments. They are supplied fully equipped and ready to install in the configuration of your choice.

Lastly, our anti-pollution check valves are NF certified. This mark is a guarantee that our products comply with the safety and quality characteristics defined in the relevant certification standards.

Support and maintenance

Our products are specifically designed to simplify maintenance of our metering systems and water networks. For example, Hydroméca's Isocourt+ manhole has a metal plate to locate the associated connection and a pre-cutting system that eliminates the need to work on the street box. All meters, valves and check valves can also be removed without using any tools.

We have a wide range of meter valves and fittings to suit every need (lockable or tamper-proof before-meter valves, telescopic valves to make maintenance easier, etc.).

O-Link simplifies installation and replacement of the meter by hand, without the need for any tools. Lastly, our fully integrated systems (boxes and manholes) make installation easier and save installation teams a huge amount of time.

The Metering environment at a glance

Metering is essential to monitor the volume of water used, and ensures that customers are billed as accurately as possible for what they consume.

The metering environment is regularly exposed to actions by operators and customers, and must therefore contain reliable equipment to prevent any ecological or economic risk. The environment manages the delivery point (operations and supply to households).

You are welcome to find out more about our metering environment solutions. You can get in touch with us using the contact form.

You can also browse our online catalogue on this page.