Water flow management accuracy essential in Australian standards

Standards Australia is partnering with relevant industry bodies to ensure that water flows to households with minimum environmental and economic impact.

During the 2022 financial year, the electricity, gas, water and waste services industry in Australia consumed approximately 66,185GL of water, with households nationwide using around 1.8 million megalitres. 

GALLERY  

According to the Water supply and consumption in Australia report by Statista, the 2023 report showed that water consumption had increased since 2021.

The committee, CE-024 Measurement of Water Flow in Open Channels and Closed Conduits, has taken proactive measures to ensure the safety and suitability of water flow measurements within the Australian market by amending the standard AS 2360.6.1-1993 – Measurement of fluid flow in closed conduits, Part 6.1: Volumetric methods – By mass. 

The standard serves as a key guideline for flow measurement using load cells as the primary method, crucial for calibrating various flow meters in Australia. Originally adopted from the international standard ISO 4185:1980, AS 2360.6.1 had remained unchanged since 1993 until its revision in mid-2023. 

The revision aims to enhance the precision of water meters, which assists in the correct allocation of water budgets and resources. These measurements also have significant social and environmental implications as they help monitor water availability for communities and support accuracy in water trading schemes and pricing.

A significant issue for updating the standard is the absence of an internationally recognised standard for the measurement of fluid flow by means of pressure differential devices inserted in circular cross-section conduits running full in Australia for over two decades.

Image courtesy of Dan Smedley, Unsplash.

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