Graphical Method to Calculate the Optimum Replacement Period for Water Meters
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 137, Issue 1
Abstract
Calculating the optimum replacement period of meters has always been a major concern for water utility managers. Its determination is time-consuming and requires multiple calculations. This note presents a graphical method to obtain, in a simple but accurate manner, the optimum replacement period of installed meters. For this purpose, a chart has been produced, in which the most influencing variables are considered. These variables include the degradation rate of the weighted error of the meters, the selling price of water, the acquisition and installation cost of the meters, the volume consumed by the users and the discount rate. The chart also allows for a quick sensitivity analysis of different options. For example, by plotting straight lines it is possible to determine by how much the optimum replacement frequency of a meter would change if it degrades at a different rate than expected or if the selling price of water increases.
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Acknowledgments
Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, through Project No. UNSPECIFIEDCGL2008-01910.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 137 • Issue 1 • January 2011
Pages: 143 - 146
Copyright
© 2011 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 5, 2009
Accepted: Jun 14, 2010
Published online: Jun 25, 2010
Published in print: Jan 2011
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