Selecting the appropriate water meter for your application involves several requirements.
- Water Quality
- Flow Range
- Straight Pipe Installation Requirement
The following information will assist with the selection of the right water meter for your site requirements.
1. Water Quality
The quality of irrigation water is an important consideration when choosing the right water meter for your system. Netafim has a full line of water meters for accurate measuring in good or poor water conditions.
Good Water Conditions
- Water with minimal organic materials
- Well water with minimal sand
Recommendation: Water meter with full diameter impeller
Why: Full diameter of inside water passage is encompassed providing a higher degree of accuracy from very low to maximum flows.
Poor Water Conditions
- Water with moderate organic materials
- Well water with sand
Recommendation: Water meter with paddle wheel
Why: Paddle wheel located at top of water passage provides free water movement eliminating clogging from debris (can also be used in good water conditions).
2. Flow Range
Water meter functionality and accuracy is dependent on minimum and maximum flow ranges. Netafim Water Meters accurately measure water from a minimum of 0.9 GPM up to a maximum of 5,500 GPM. Specific flow ranges for each size and model are listed in Selection Guideline charts.
3. Straight Pipe Installation Requirement
Turbulence is created when the water flows through fittings, elbow or pipe size transitions and in order to eliminate water turbulence, some water meters require straight pipe before and after the meter. Straight pipe installation refers to the length of straight pipe needed before (upstream of the water meter) and after (downstream of the water meter). Meters with built-in straightening vanes (WST Model) are used to reduce the minimum straight pipe requirements.
