Submetering In The States

Kamstrup Water Metering, based in Denmark, has been in the metering business since 1946, but is but is newer to the U.S. market. Warren Ault, product manager for Kamstrup, sat down with Water Online Radio to tell us more about their products and services.

One of the companies’ specialties are extremely accurate meters, particularly when measuring low flow. Ault said, “We have achieved California Type Evaluation Program (CTEP) approval not just on cold water, but also on hot water sub-metering. We can install our meters for landlords or building owners or multi-unit trailer parks to use, and we have very cost-effective radio read systems that can allow someone to sub very quickly, from a direct read, into an AMR situation.”

Studies have shown that just the physical presence of a meter in a residence will reduce the consumption by up to 20 percent. If you can provide the data to the consumer, they will reduce their consumption.

Kamstrup’s meters can be retrofitted, and one of the aspects about the ultrasonic transit time technology used is the flexibility with which you can cut in a meter. If you have a pipe that’s inside of the wall, you can put it in vertically or upside down – the orientation doesn’t matter. It’s very compact design, so it will fit into a 2x4 framed wall, something you can’t do with a brass body meter.

One of the key aspects of the reading systems is that you get an exception report in terms of an info code — or exception — to the meter while in the field. An info code can appear in a variety of situations, such as the possibility of a leak being present, a burst condition, or a backflow event, where the water’s flowing the wrong direction.

Click the radio player to listen to the full interview with Warren Ault and learn more about the products and services Kamstrup has to offer.