Development of an economic model for the optimal management of water meters installed in banks inside buildings in water supply network

Abstract

One of the key objectives of water distribution companies is to reduce apparent losses caused by water meters inaccuracies, to know the useful life of water meters and to improve the overall efficiency of the meters installed in the system. This article details the development of an improved economic model that allows for a more accurate calculation of the useful life of water meters installed inside buildings, in meter banks. The new methodology improves water meter management, reduces costs and increases the water utility revenue by making the replacement activities of those meters more efficient. The new economic model searches for residential buildings in which the meters are installed in meter banks and have the worse metrological conditions. The economic model makes a selection of the meters in those buildings that need to be replaced and the ones that can be left in the bank. Then, the new economic model searches for the buildings nearby that need to be visited to optimize the travelling time of the water meter replacement teams and to minimize the installation costs.

Keywords

• modelo económico
• parque de contadores
• vida útil
• error global