AMI & Negative Meter Readings Reveal Backflow & Water Quality Issues

The New Tech for Water Districts

How do we know when backflow happens? When a municipality has hundreds of thousands of water customers - residential, industrial, and Water_meter_with_remote_reading.jpgcommercial - it's difficult to keep up with all the information from meters and valves. Automatic meter reading is a relatively new technology to streamline this process and backflow prevention. A water district that has this sort of system is able to monitor and analyze meters in real time. There are even more advanced "smart grid" sort of systems called advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) that allow two way communication between the customer and the water utility. It can even be used to disconnect the water service remotely, which is especially useful for stopping or containing contamination. WaterWorld Magazine wrote an article on AMI discussing the benefits here. In using these new technologies, water purveyors have found something unexpected. A surprising number of meters sometimes run backwards.

That means backflow

The most basic explanation of backflow is the flow of water in an unwanted direction. Basically it's water being returned to the supply. This is dangerous because of the various ways customers may use that water. There are so many ways water can become contaminated from lawn fertilizer to chemicals at industrial plants to medical materials. Backflow prevention is the responsibility of water purveyors. Now advanced metering infrastructure can help to make that crucial job somewhat simpler. Analyzing the data from these systems reveals information about the public water system's health. Backflow occurs for a couple of different reasons.


Municipalities across the country are changing the way they do things. Read about the latest trends here.


Finding it and Fixing Itconventional RPZ device.png

One cause is low pressure. Low pressure in the public water system is siginifcantly more common than may be expected. It happens at night, when the demand is low, and it also happens in many older cities that have massive but partially outdated piping systems. Both of these scenarios can cause the water to flow backwards simply because there isn't enough pressure to actually push it in the right direction. Analyzing the data collected from an AMI system can alert purveyors to problem areas that chronically have too little pressure. Data can be collected quite often, even hourly, so it can be analyzed later to find leaks, backflow, and other issues. This data can show the water district meters frequently running in the wrong direction and they can take steps to fix the problem. The other common cause of backflow is a reverse pressure situation. This has a variety of causes, and a simple one is overheating. In particularly warm weather, back pressure is definitely a worry. Once again, analyzing data is the key to sorting out problem areas in the vast piping systems.

New Technology, New Obstacles

The new availability of data doesn't solve everything, though. First, in order to locate and then make plans to remedy problems, water utility personnel must be analyzing the data. They have to be actively looking for problems. AMI doesn't have systems in place to automatically detect problems then alert the staff. Sure, problems could be located in real time if they are noticed in real time. Typically, it's just a matter of identifying trends after the fact. However, once it is found, the two way communication with the meter makes it easy to shut off the water automatically so the problem doesn't continue while staff is on the way to fix it. Basically, this is to say that the technology just isn't perfect yet. The biggest hurdle with AMI is that this technology can be cost prohibitive. Very few districts have had the means to upgrade so far. Other than the price tag, installing an AMI system is relatively simple. Once installed, it actually can reduce the cost and burden on the water district. A common problem for water purveyors is leaks, which are also difficult to pinpoint manually. AMI can be used to find them faster, which saves districts a lot of money alone. AMI systems are worth it because meter reading becomes automatic, it's easier to find leaks and other problems, and the system allows two way communication with the meter.

Keep Moving Forward

Using advanced metering infrastructure can be an enormous help in locating and eliminating backflow caused by a variety of factors. If the water utility can see meters running backwards, they can do something about it. Surprisingly, negative meter readings are not typically a selling point of AMI manufacturers. The problem is that water purveyors do not like to publicly talk about this problem and it's prevalency. After speaking with cross connection control managers that have installed these systems and realized how many meters are running backwards, I've learned they are worried about starting a panic. It is not something people want to talk about. Because of this, it's more difficult to convince customers that AMI will benefit them with increased water suppy protection. Water utilities have to be able to fund water supply improvements. It is the water works industry's responsibility to talk about these things and make change happen. Don't turn away from protecting the water supply.

Best Practices in Backflow Prevention & Protection

Related Posts

Beyond Aluminum Enclosures: Our Commitment to Corporate Responsibility

One Step Ahead: A Look at High-Hazard Cross-Connections and Compliance

IoT Takes Backflow Prevention To Another Level

From the Field - The Safe-T-Cover Advantage with a Damaged Enclosure

Think Outside the Vault: Fayetteville, North Carolina

From The Field: 2022 WASDA Fall Conference Recap

DC VS RPZ - WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Game changer: The Ames Deringer backflow

2021 YEAR IN REVIEW — FROM BACKFLOW BEST PRACTICES TO THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE BILL

Municipalities Move to Smart Meters to Capture Water Loss Amounts Remotely

How a Project in Georgia Could Change the Face of the Backflow Protection and Enclosure Requirements

What Happens When a RPZ Fails?

Introducing Our New Best Practices Guide

Do Backflow Events Really Endanger Our Drinking Water?

The State Flower of Florida (Backflow Preventer)

Comparing the Costs: Meter Vault vs. Enclosure

Meter Vault Innovation — Check Out This Trend

Chicago Backflow Incident of 1933

What You Need To Know About Backflow Prevention Devices

Part 3: Why You Should Keep Backflow Preventers Out of Basements

Expert Says Containment Protection is Necessary For Backflow Prevention

What You Need to Know About Backflow Prevention and Flood Risks

How To Build a Successful Cross Connection Control Program

What is a Cross Connection Control and Backflow Preventer?

Expert Says Backflow Prevention Can't Be Ignored Anymore

Water Quality Drops When Backflow Preventers Fail

Backflow Prevention Plays Small but Mighty Role in Water Quality

Cross Connection Control Spotlight: How LVVWD Avoids Backflow

Backflow Protection and Fire Protection Pit Safety Against Safety

Ottawa protects water system with new backflow prevention program (15,000 Properties to be Affected)

Webinar: The End-All Discussion on Underground Utility Vaults

Cross Connection Control Managers Work Behind the Scenes to Protect Water Quality

Never Put Your Backflow Preventer Installation In The Basement

AMI Water Meters Allow Utilities to Provide Higher Level of Service

High Hazard Classification - Who Makes the Determination?

Are you ready for flood water in 2018?

Roswell, GA Updates Standard Details For RPZ Backflow Preventers

Which Do You Need - A Cage or Enclosure?

Success and Roadblocks in Water Utility Management

Are Water Utilities Inheriting Risk Regarding Backflow Installation?

Keep Backflow Prevention Outside To Reduce Risk for M/P Engineers

Cross Connection Alert - Poll Reveals Concerning Info on Vault Design

Backflow FAQ - Flooded Vaults, Standard Details, and RPZ Flooding

Think Backflow Doesn't Happen? Just Look at Corpus Christi.

A Video on Why Vaults Are A Bad Idea For Backflow Installation

How and Why The Cross Connection Control Industry is Changing

Arlington Rolls Out New Engineering Backflow Preventer Details

New Slideshare Series on Cross Connection Control and Waterworks

UTILITY VAULT VS INDUSTRIAL ENCLOSURE: WHAT'S THE COST?

7 Voices; 1 Solution - Backflow Preventer Installation Trends

How to design & Buy a Pump Enclosure

Get the free, editable checklist.

download-cta
DOWNLOAD NOW

CONTACT US

Have a question about a backflow preventer enclosure?
Click the contact us button below and one of our experts will be able to help with your specific enclosure needs.