Performance Specifications for Water Meters

A performance specification is a set of criteria regarding specific operational requirements that must be met by a manufacturer. It embraces the "black box" concept that these specifications do not dictate what is in the "box" (or meter), only how the product must be capable of performing in the way of service life, accuracy, and related parameters. Thus a performance specification would minimize subjective factors in the choice of water meters for purchase. For some time the purchasing division of the East Bay Municipal Utility Dist. (EBMUD) of Oakland, Calif., had considered the possibility of purchasing water meters on the basis of a performance specification. The engineering and operations office of EBMUD was asked to investigate the feasibility of a water meter performance specification. A test procedure was devised to provide information that would aid in the development of such a specification. The original tests were conducted on 1.5by 1.8-cm (%by 3/4-in.) residential water meters. The concept of a performance specification and accelerated wear testing of water meters was expanded subsequently to include meters through the 25-cm (10-in.) size. The initial tests indicated that it would be feasible to design a performance specification for use in purchas-