Pitot Testing: The Gold Standard For Wholesale And Production Meter Accuracy Evaluation

For most water utilities, master and production meters represent the system's financial and operational truth. These meters quantify the volume of water entering the distribution network, support water accountability programs, validate NRW calculations, and influence everything from treatment costs to rate structures.

Yet despite their importance, many large-diameter meters are not regularly tested for accuracy. Utilities often incorrectly assume that electronic calibration of a meter's instrumentation is equivalent to an accurate flow test. It isn’t. Electronic Calibration, while vital, is not the same as Flow Testing.

Without periodic flow verification, even small inaccuracies can translate into significant revenue loss or misleading system data. A master meter that is off by only 3–5% can account for millions of gallons annually—enough to distort water audits, complicate leak detection efforts, and undermine capital planning decisions.

That’s why more utilities are turning to field-based Pitot testing as a practical, reliable way to verify production meter performance without removing the meter from service.