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Water & Wastewater Industry Solutions

Flow Measurement Across Every Stage of the Water Cycle

From source water intake and drinking water distribution to sewage treatment, sludge handling, and effluent discharge — HBYB instruments cover every fluid stream in municipal and industrial water management, including the open-channel and partially-filled pipe flows that most meter types cannot handle.
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Industry Segments We Support

Municipal, Industrial, and Environmental Water Management

Water and wastewater operations span municipal utilities, industrial facilities, and environmental management — each with distinct fluid conditions, regulatory requirements, and infrastructure challenges.

Municipal Water Utilities

Drinking water production and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and sludge management across urban and peri-urban service areas.
Water treatment plants
Pumping stations
Sewage treatment works

Industrial Water & Effluent

Process water supply, cooling water systems, industrial pre-treatment, and effluent discharge measurement at manufacturing facilities under environmental permit conditions.
Industrial pre-treatment
Cooling water
Effluent discharge
Water recycling

Water Reuse & Resource Recovery

Reclaimed water production, biogas energy recovery from anaerobic digestion, biosolids monitoring, and water-energy nexus metering for circular resource management.
Reclaimed water distribution
Biogas recovery
Sludge handling
Energy monitoring

Water Supply Infrastructure

Bulk water transfer, reservoir management, irrigation distribution, desalination plant metering, and large-diameter trunk main flow monitoring for regional supply networks.
Bulk water transfer
Reservoir intake
Irrigation networks
Desalination plants

Water & Wastewater Chemicals

Coagulant and flocculant dosing, chlorination and disinfection, pH adjustment chemicals, polymer and nutrient dosing across water and wastewater treatment stages.
Coagulant dosing
Chlorine disinfection
pH & nutrient control

Remote & Rural Water Systems

Battery-powered metering for remote water supply networks, boreholes, rural distribution systems, and irrigation schemes where mains power and continuous maintenance access are unavailable.
Remote water supply
Borehole metering
GPRS data transfer
What Flow Measurement Covers

Three Fluid Categories Requiring Different Measurement Approaches

A water and wastewater facility operates three fundamentally different fluid types simultaneously. Each has different flow characteristics, installation constraints, and measurement principles — no single meter technology covers all three.
Why the wrong meter creates invisible operational problems

In water and wastewater, measurement errors are rarely obvious — they accumulate silently as non-revenue water, underreported discharge, or out-of-spec chemical dosing that is only discovered at the next audit.

Measurement Challenges

Five Conditions That Drive Flowmeter Selection in Water & Wastewater

Each condition below creates a specific operational consequence when overlooked — not an abstract engineering concern.

Partially-filled and open-channel flows cannot use standard inline meters

Sewers, drainage channels, overflow weirs, and gravity outfalls do not flow under pressure in a full-bore pipe — the fundamental assumption behind every standard inline meter. An electromagnetic, turbine, or vortex meter installed in a partially-full pipe produces incorrect readings whenever the flow level drops below the sensor. The correct meters are partially-filled electromagnetic meters (for pipe flow) and ultrasonic or magnetic open-channel meters (for weirs and flumes). Using the wrong type here is not an accuracy issue — it is a complete measurement failure.
If overlooked: A standard inline meter in a partially-full sewer pipe reads zero or erratically whenever flow drops below the sensor, producing data gaps that make regulatory discharge reporting invalid.

High solids content eliminates turbine, vortex, and DP meter

Raw sewage typically carries 200–400 mg/L suspended solids. Return activated sludge carries 6,000–10,000 mg/L. Primary sludge reaches 30,000–80,000 mg/L. Turbine blades erode and jam. DP meter impulse lines clog. Vortex bluff bodies accumulate rag and debris. Only electromagnetic meters with full-bore, zero-obstruction construction and wear-resistant linings can handle these streams reliably. Polyurethane lining is the standard choice for high-abrasion sludge service, where PTFE would deform under solids impact loads.
If overlooked: A turbine or DP meter on a sludge line fails within weeks from mechanical jamming or impulse line blockage — requiring process shutdown for replacement at significant maintenance cost.

Non-revenue water (NRW) requires sub-metering to be actionable

Globally, 30–40% of treated water entering distribution networks is lost as non-revenue water — through leaks, illegal connections, and meter error. A single bulk supply meter at the treatment plant cannot identify where losses occur. District metered area (DMA) sub-metering — with a meter at each zone boundary — is the only approach that makes NRW losses visible and locatable. Battery-powered or GPRS-connected meters are essential for sub-meters at remote zone boundaries where mains power is unavailable.
If overlooked: Without DMA sub-metering, a utility can only observe that 35% of its treated water disappears — but cannot identify which zone, which network segment, or which pressure zone is responsible.

Chemical dosing accuracy determines treatment quality and compliance

Insufficient chlorine dosing produces under-disinfected water that fails microbiological compliance. Over-dosing wastes chemical cost and may exceed disinfection by-product limits. Coagulant under-dosing produces turbid water that fails drinking water standards; over-dosing increases sludge production and operating cost. Dosing meters must be accurate at the low flow rates typical of chemical injection — small-bore electromagnetic meters for conductive chemical solutions, or Coriolis meters when the chemical is non-conductive or when mass-based dosing verification is required.
If overlooked: A 10% chlorine under-dose may not show in the plant outlet but can produce compliant-looking residuals that fall below detection limits in the distribution network hours later.

Environmental discharge compliance requires continuous, documented measurement

Effluent discharge permits specify maximum daily loads — typically in kg/day for contaminants or m³/day for volume — not just instantaneous concentrations. Continuous flow monitoring at the effluent discharge point is the regulatory requirement; grab sample flow estimates are not accepted. The meter must be certified for the application, produce time-stamped totalizer records, and remain accurate through seasonal flow variations from near-zero dry weather flow to peak wet weather storm surges that can exceed 6:1 of dry weather flow.
If overlooked: Missing or intermittent flow data at an effluent discharge point constitutes a permit non-compliance event, even if pollutant concentrations were within limits during the gap period.

Fluid Measurement Coverage Map

Where Measurement Occurs Across the Water & Wastewater Cycle

From abstraction to final discharge — every stage requires flow measurement, and each stage uses a different instrument principle.
Stage 01
Abstraction & Intake
River / borehole
Open channel
Raw water
Integrated EM
Open Channel EM
Clamp-On Ultrasonic
Stage 02
Water Treatment
Treated water
Chemical dosing
Backwash
Integrated EM
Threaded EM (chemicals)
Thermal Mass (air)
Stage 03
Distribution & Reuse
Potable supply
DMA sub-metering
Reclaimed water
Integrated EM
Battery-Powered EM
Clamp-On Ultrasonic
Stage 04
Sewage Collection & WwTP
Sewage influent
CSO / overflow
Process recirculation
Partially-Filled EM
Open Channel Ultrasonic
Integrated EM
Stage 05
Sludge & Resource Recovery
Primary sludge
Digester biogas
RAS / WAS
Slurry-Type EM
Insertion Thermal Mass
Integrated EM
Electromagnetic (Magnetic) Flowmeter family
Thermal Mass & Open Channel Flowmeter
Slurry-Type Magnetic Flowmeter
Ultrasonic Flowmeter (Clamp-On & Open Channel)
Application-to-Instrument Guide

Find the Right Flowmeter for Your Process

Select the category that matches your process. Each card identifies the measurement challenge specific to that application and explains why the recommended instrument is the correct choice.
01 - Clean water — transmission & distribution

Drinking water distribution mains, pumping stations, and reservoir supply pipelines

Treated potable water is clean, fully conductive, and flows in full-bore pressurized pipelines — the ideal service condition for electromagnetic flowmeters. Zero obstruction is essential on distribution mains: any pressure drop from a meter wastes pump energy across the system lifetime. Electromagnetic meters introduce no pressure loss, require no straight-pipe section in most configurations, and produce accurate readings regardless of flow rate variations across the 24-hour demand cycle.

Best fit: All treated water distribution — potable water mains, pumping station flows, service reservoir supply and return, zone boundary metering.
Zero pressure drop
±0.5% accuracy
IP67/IP68 standard
Integrated Magnetic Flowmeter →
02 - NRW & district metered area sub-metering

Zone boundary meters and district metered area (DMA) sub-metering for non-revenue water detection

DMA sub-metering places an electromagnetic meter at each zone boundary to quantify the balance between supply and consumption. Many zone boundary meter points have no mains power connection. Battery-powered electromagnetic meters with GPRS data transmission eliminate the need for power infrastructure at each sub-meter location, enabling NRW programs across entire distribution networks without civil works for power supply at each meter point.

Best fit: Zone boundary meters in NRW programs, remote meter locations without power supply, rural distribution sub-metering.
Battery powered — no mains required
IP68 — burial rated
GPRS / RS485 data
Battery-Powered Magnetic Flowmeter
03 - Large trunk mains & retrofit metering

Adding or verifying metering on large-diameter water mains without pipe cutting or service interruption

Large-diameter trunk water mains (DN400–DN2000) often have no full-bore meter installed, or have aging meters requiring verification without system shutdown. Clamp-on ultrasonic meters mount on the exterior of the existing pipe with no penetration, no pressure drop, and no interruption to the water supply. They are equally suited to permanent sub-metering installations and to temporary survey metering for NRW investigations and existing meter verification.

Best fit: Large water mains where pipe cutting is not permitted; temporary flow surveys; verification meters alongside existing installed meters.
Zero pipe penetration
No service interruption
DN50–DN6000
Clamp-On Ultrasonic Flowmeter →
04 - Source water & raw water intake

River intake, borehole abstraction, and reservoir draw-off measurement at water treatment plant inlets

Raw water intake streams carry suspended sediment, organic matter, and occasionally sand — conditions that would damage turbine meter bearings and clog DP meter impulse lines over time. Electromagnetic meters with polyurethane or PTFE linings measure accurately regardless of suspended load, with no moving parts to erode. On large gravity-fed intake channels, magnetic open-channel meters measure without constructing a weir structure.

Best fit: River, reservoir, or borehole abstraction in pressurized pipe service. For open-channel intake, see the open-channel meter option below.
Handles sediment-laden raw water
Bi-directional totalization
Integrated Magnetic Flowmeter →
03 - Open channel intake & overflow measurement

Gravity intake channels, overflow weirs, and flume measurement at water abstraction points and storm overflows

Open channels at water intakes and storm overflow structures do not flow under pressure — standard inline meters cannot measure them. Magnetic open-channel meters or ultrasonic open-channel meters measure the depth-velocity relationship at the channel without constructing a formal weir structure, enabling accurate volumetric flow monitoring at sites where civil construction is impractical.

Best fit: Open intake channels, storm overflow weirs, gravity-fed intake flumes, irrigation measurement at off-take structures.
No weir construction needed
Free-surface flow
Non-intrusive options
Magnetic Open Channel Flowmeter →
01 - Sewage treatment plant influent

Incoming sewage flow measurement at wastewater treatment plants

Treatment plant influent is raw sewage with high suspended solids (200–400 mg/L), rag content, and variable flow that peaks sharply during rain events. Sewers rarely flow completely full, so a standard inline meter — designed for full-bore conditions — reads incorrectly during low-flow periods. Partially-filled electromagnetic meters solve this: they measure accurately in pipes that are anywhere from 10% to 100% full, using a capacitive level sensor integrated into the meter body alongside the electromagnetic velocity sensors.

Best fit: Sewage influent at treatment plant inlet works where the gravity sewer is not always full-bore under pressure.
Accurate at 10–100% fill level
Handles rag & solids
IP68 — submersion rated
Partially Filled Magnetic Flowmeter →
02 - Sewer & combined overflow monitoring

Combined sewer overflow and stormwater outfall monitoring 

Combined sewer overflow structures discharge a mixture of sewage and stormwater to receiving water bodies during heavy rain. Environmental regulators require continuous volumetric monitoring at each CSO to document overflow frequency, duration, and volume. Flow in the overflow channel is always partially filled and highly variable. Ultrasonic open-channel meters provide non-contact measurement — with no moving parts exposed to the aggressive, rag-laden overflow — using acoustic level sensing over a flow-measurement flume or weir.

Best fit: overflow channels, storm outfalls, partially-full bypass channels where non-contact measurement is required.
Variable fill level
Battery or solar powered
Environmental compliance logging
Ultrasonic Open Channel Flowmeter →
03 - Effluent discharge & permit compliance

Treated effluent measurement at final discharge points

Treated effluent is cleaner than influent but still carries residual suspended solids. The regulatory requirement is continuous, totalizing volumetric measurement with time-stamped records — not periodic sampling. Treated effluent is fully conductive; electromagnetic meters are the standard instrument for pressurized effluent discharge lines. Where effluent discharges through a gravity channel rather than a pressurized pipe, open-channel flow meters serve the same compliance function.

Best fit: Pressurized final effluent pipelines discharging to receiving waters under environmental permit conditions.
Continuous totalizing record
Handles residual suspended solids
IP68 rated
Integrated Magnetic Flowmeter →
03 -Pumping station & rising main

Sewage flow measurement on pumped rising mains between pumping stations and treatment works

Sewage rising mains carry raw sewage under pressure between pumping stations — the pipeline is full bore under pump pressure, making this a straightforward inline meter application. However, sewage carries suspended solids and occasional grit that limits the use of turbine and DP meters. Large-bore rising mains (DN300–DN1200) are expensive to interrupt for meter installation; insertion electromagnetic meters installed through a hot-tap fitting avoid full-pipe shutdown while still measuring in the full-bore pressurized condition.

Best fit:Sewage rising mains at pumping stations — full-bore or insertion options depending on pipe size and shutdown constraints.
Full-bore or hot-tap insertion
Handles grit & solids
DN100–DN3000
Insertion Magnetic Flowmeter →
03 - Secondary treatment recirculation

Internal process flow monitoring — primary to secondary, return flows, and inter-stage transfer

Between treatment stages — primary clarifier outlet, secondary aeration tank inlet, clarifier overflow to tertiary — flows are in full-bore pressurized pipelines carrying partially-treated wastewater. Suspended solids concentrations are lower than raw influent but still significant enough to rule out turbine meters. Standard electromagnetic meters with PTFE lining serve all internal process flow measurement at treatment plants, providing the stable process control data that aeration control and chemical dosing systems require.

Best fit:All pressurized internal process flows at treatment works — primary clarifier outlet, secondary transfer, tertiary inlet, recirculation flows.
Full-bore — no obstruction
PTFE lining standard
±0.5% accuracy
Integrated Magnetic Flowmeter →
01 - Primary & thickened sludge transfer

Primary sludge, gravity-thickened sludge, and dissolved air flotation (DAF) sludge pipeline metering

Primary sludge leaving the clarifier floor typically carries 3–6% dry solids (30,000–60,000 mg/L). At this concentration, solids particles are abrasive under velocity: standard PTFE linings abrade and lose accuracy. Polyurethane-rubber lining is the correct material — it has 10× the abrasion resistance of natural rubber and exceeds the wear life of PTFE and hard rubber under abrasive sludge conditions. The full-bore electromagnetic design produces no pressure drop in gravity sludge transfer pipelines, which is important where driving head is limited.

Best fit: Primary sludge, gravity-thickened sludge, DAF float sludge, and any high-solids stream where abrasion resistance determines meter service life.
3–10% dry solids
Zero pressure drop
316L / Hastelloy electrodes
Slurry-Type Magnetic Flowmeter →
02 - Return activated sludge (RAS & WAS)

Return activated sludge and waste activated sludge flow control in biological treatment processes

Return activated sludge (RAS) typically runs at 6,000–10,000 mg/L suspended solids — lower than primary sludge but still too abrasive for standard linings over a multi-year service interval. The RAS recirculation ratio to the aeration tank is a key control parameter for biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal; accurate flow measurement directly determines treatment process stability. Standard electromagnetic meters with PTFE or polyurethane lining serve RAS service reliably, with no pressure drop impact on the recirculation pump head.

Best fit: RAS and WAS lines in activated sludge and biological nutrient removal processes — pressurized, full-bore pipelines.
6,000–10,000 mg/L solids
Full bore — no clogging
MIntegrated Magnetic Flowmeter →
03 - Anaerobic digester biogas metering

Biogas production and utilization flow monitoring on anaerobic digesters for energy recovery

Digester biogas (55–70% methane) is produced at low pressure (0.5–5 kPa gauge) and measured for energy recovery accounting, flare control, and grid injection or CHP engine fuel metering. The wide variation in biogas flow rate — from near-zero during cold weather or process upset to peak production at full thermal loading — requires a wide-turndown meter. Insertion thermal mass flowmeters handle the typical large-diameter digester gas headers (DN200–DN600) without pipe modification, and deliver direct mass flow output without requiring separate T/P transmitters.

Best fit: Anaerobic digester gas header pipes (DN100–DN2000), biogas to CHP engines, boilers, or flare control systems.
Wide turndown — low to peak flow
Direct mass flow (kg/h)
Insertion Thermal Mass Flowmeter →
03 - Digested sludge to dewatering & land application

Anaerobically digested sludge transfer to dewatering centrifuges, belt presses, and agricultural spreading vehicles

Digested sludge is transferred to dewatering equipment at 2–5% dry solids. Unlike primary sludge, digested sludge is less abrasive (biological decomposition has reduced particle hardness) but still requires a full-bore, zero-obstruction meter design. The volumetric totalizer reading at each filling event — centrifuge or dewatering press cycle — is the basis for biosolids production records, land application volumes, and disposal charge calculations. Electromagnetic meters with PTFE lining and a batch totalizing function serve all of these purposes.

Best fit: Digested sludge to dewatering systems, batch totalizing for biosolids records, transfer to lagoon or storage.
Batch totalizing
2–5% dry solids
No obstruction — gravity transfer
Integrated Magnetic Flowmeter →
03 - Biogas to CHP engines & boilers

Small-bore biogas fuel supply metering to combined heat and power (CHP) engines and heating boilers

The supply line from the biogas storage vessel to a CHP engine or boiler is typically DN25–DN100 at modest pressure. The mass flow rate of biogas fuel determines energy input and engine load control. Inline thermal mass meters installed in this service deliver direct Nm³/h and kg/h output without a separate pressure or temperature transmitter — simplifying the control panel and eliminating two additional points of failure in the energy management system.

Best fit: Biogas fuel supply lines to CHP engines, boilers, and burners — small to medium bore, direct energy output required.
Explosion-proof standard
Direct Nm³/h output
No T/P transmitters needed
Insertion Thermal Mass Flowmeter →
01 - Industrial effluent discharge monitoring

Continuous discharge measurement at industrial facility boundary points for environmental permit compliance

Industrial effluent composition varies widely by sector, but most industrial effluents are conductive aqueous streams. Environmental discharge permits require continuous flow monitoring with time-stamped totalized volume records — not instantaneous readings. Electromagnetic meters with PTFE lining cover the chemically diverse range of industrial effluents, from dilute rinse waters to moderately concentrated process streams. For large-bore existing discharge pipes where shutdown is not feasible, insertion electromagnetic meters install without cutting the pipe.

Best fit: Industrial effluent lines discharging to sewer or receiving water under environmental permit — pressurized, full-bore or large-pipe insertion service.
Continuous totalized record
Corrosive effluent compatible
±0.5% accuracy
HART / Modbus for SCADA
Integrated Magnetic Flowmeter →
02 - Open-channel industrial effluent & drainage

Industrial process drainage, site runoff, and open-channel effluent monitoring at factory and facility boundaries

Industrial process drainage and site stormwater often discharges through open channels or box culverts rather than pressurized pipelines. Standard inline meters cannot measure open-channel flow. Ultrasonic open-channel meters measure free-surface flow without contact with the flowing liquid — critical when the effluent is corrosive, contains floating solids, or has highly variable composition. Level is measured by non-contact ultrasonic sensing over a flume, weir, or rated channel section.

Best fit: Open-channel effluent at industrial boundary — channels, culverts, weirs, and flumes — particularly where liquid contact is undesirable.
Flume, weir, or rated channel
Corrosive / floating solids
Environmental permit logging
Ultrasonic Open Channel Flowmeter →
03 - Cooling water & process water circuits

Cooling tower supply and return, heat exchanger cooling circuits, and industrial process water monitoring

Industrial cooling water circuits are large-diameter, continuously operating systems where pressure drop from a full-bore meter adds to pump energy cost across decades of service. For existing large-diameter cooling mains (DN400+), clamp-on ultrasonic meters install externally with zero pipe penetration and zero pressure drop. For smaller bore cooling circuits where full-bore installation is practical, electromagnetic meters provide accurate, permanent measurement with no maintenance intervals on the flow element.

Best fit: Large cooling mains — clamp-on for no-disruption monitoring. Medium-bore cooling circuits — electromagnetic for permanent metering.
Zero pipe modification
No process shutdown
DN50–DN6000
Permanent or survey use
Clamp-On Ultrasonic Flowmeter →
04 - Reclaimed water distribution

Tertiary treated and reclaimed water distribution for industrial reuse, irrigation, and non-potable urban applications

Reclaimed water from membrane bioreactors or advanced tertiary treatment is clean enough for industrial process water, irrigation, and toilet flushing — but must be clearly separated from potable supply to prevent cross-connection. Flow metering at each reuse supply point documents the volume of reclaimed water delivered, enabling water balance accounting and reuse credit calculations under regulatory frameworks that incentivize reuse over discharge. Electromagnetic meters serve this application identically to potable distribution metering.

Best fit: Reclaimed water distribution networks, irrigation supply, industrial reuse offtakes — treated, conductive water in pressurized pipe.
Zero pressure drop
Reuse volume totalizing
IP68 rated
Battery-powered option available
Integrated Magnetic Flowmeter →
01 - Chemical dosing — coagulants & flocculants

Liquid alum, ferric chloride, and polymer dosing into raw water at treatment plant coagulation stages

Coagulant dosing flow rates are low — typically 2–50 L/h — against the full static pressure of the treatment plant pipeline. The dosing rate must follow raw water flow in proportion to maintain target coagulant dose (mg/L). Conductive coagulant solutions (alum, ferric chloride) are accurately measured by small-bore electromagnetic meters, which provide stable low-flow measurement without the air-entrainment and viscosity sensitivity issues that affect turbine meters at low flow. Threaded connections in DN6–DN25 cover typical chemical dosing pipe sizes.

Best fit: Conductive chemical dosing — alum, ferric chloride, sodium hydroxide, lime slurry, polymer solutions — small-bore, low-flow service.
DN6–DN100 small bore
Low-flow accurate
Conductive chemical solutions
Threaded Magnetic Flowmeter →
02 - Chlorination & disinfection chemical dosing

Sodium hypochlorite, chlorine gas solution, and UV system chemical dosing in drinking water and effluent disinfection

Sodium hypochlorite solution is a conductive liquid that is measured accurately by small-bore electromagnetic meters. The dosing flow rate and the main water flow rate together determine the chlorine residual — the most critical compliance parameter in drinking water treatment and effluent disinfection. Accurate, drift-free measurement of the chemical flow is essential because chlorine overdose has taste and odor impacts and may produce regulatory exceedances of disinfection by-products; under-dosing has direct public health consequences.

Best fit: Sodium hypochlorite dosing at water treatment plant, treated water disinfection point, and effluent final disinfection — small-bore, conductive solution service.
Accurate at low dosing rates
Corrosion-resistant electrode options
No moving parts — no fouling
Threaded Magnetic Flowmeter →
03 - Aeration air & compressed air monitoring

Process air supply to activated sludge aeration tanks, membrane bioreactors, and plant compressed air utilities

Aeration accounts for 50–70% of a typical wastewater treatment plant’s electricity consumption. Measuring aeration air flow at each tank zone — and correlating it with dissolved oxygen sensors — is the basis for aeration control strategies that can reduce energy use by 20–30%. Insertion thermal mass meters install in the existing air supply headers without cutting the duct, delivering direct standard volume flow (Nm³/h) output that aeration control algorithms use directly. A 200:1 turndown covers both minimum aeration maintenance flow and peak summer demand.

Best fit: Aeration blower discharge headers, individual tank zone air supply drops, and plant compressed air utilities — large-bore duct or pipe service.
200:1 turndown ratio
Direct Nm³/h output
Hot-tap — no duct cutting
Energy management ready
Insertion Thermal Mass Flowmeter →
03 - Backwash water & filter operations

Filter backwash supply, backwash recovery, and membrane cleaning circuit measurement at water treatment plants

Rapid gravity filter and membrane system backwash cycles consume 2–5% of total treated water production — a water loss that can be quantified and optimized with accurate backwash flow metering. Backwash water is clean treated water in full-bore pressurized pipes; electromagnetic meters provide accurate batch totalization for each backwash cycle. Recording backwash volume per cycle also enables early detection of filter fouling or membrane degradation, both of which increase backwash water consumption before any other performance indicator changes.

Best fit: Filter backwash supply headers, membrane cleaning circuits, backwash recovery and recycling — full-bore pressurized clean water service.
Batch cycle totalization
Clean water — low maintenance
Zero pressure drop
Process control output
Insertion Thermal Mass Flowmeter →
Application Reference

Influent Metering, Sludge Flow Control, and NRW Reduction at a Regional Water Authority

These are the selection criteria that distinguish a pharmaceutical-grade instrument decision from a standard industrial one.

The Challenge

A regional water authority managing both drinking water distribution and wastewater treatment had three concurrent measurement problems: standard inline magnetic meters at the treatment plant influent were under-reading during low-flow night periods when the gravity sewer ran at 40–60% fill; primary sludge meters were failing every 8–12 months from abrasion; and 38% non-revenue water was being reported in the distribution network without any sub-meter data to identify which zones were responsible.

The Solution

Partially-filled electromagnetic meters (with integrated level sensing) replaced the standard meters at the treatment plant inlet works — solving the under-reading at low fill. Slurry-type electromagnetic meters with polyurethane lining replaced the worn primary sludge meters. Battery-powered electromagnetic meters with GPRS data transmission were installed at 12 zone boundary points in the distribution network, enabling district metered area analysis without power infrastructure at each sub-meter location.

The Outcome

Influent measurement accuracy across the full flow range was restored within the first week of operation. Sludge meter service life is expected to exceed 4 years — compared to the previous 8–12 month replacement cycle. DMA analysis from the 12 zone boundary meters identified two network segments responsible for 60% of the total NRW, enabling targeted repair to begin within the first monitoring period.

12

Flowmeters installed

IP68

All flowmeters — submersion rated

4yr+

Expected sludge meter service life

GPRS

Battery-powered, no mains needed

Technical Standards & Certifications

Built for Water & Wastewater Operational Environments

The specifications that water utility procurement and environmental regulators require — standard across the HBYB water sector range.

IP68 Submersion Protection

All water and wastewater series instruments carry IP68 as standard — rated for sustained submersion, enabling installation in buried valve chambers, manholes, and flooded meter pits without additional protection enclosures.

Battery-Powered Operation

Battery-powered electromagnetic meters with 3.6V lithium cells provide 5–8 years of operation with GPRS data transmission — eliminating power infrastructure requirements at remote zone boundary metering points and rural supply locations.

Corrosion & Abrasion Resistant Linings

PTFE, F46, PFA, polyurethane rubber, and neoprene lining options cover the full range of water and wastewater fluid conditions — from clean potable water to abrasive sludge with high solids loading.

SCADA & Remote Communication

4–20mA, HART, Modbus RS485, pulse output, and GPRS communication options support both traditional SCADA integration and modern remote monitoring platforms for water network management systems.

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Tell Us Your Application. We'll Specify the Right Flowmeters

Whether you're measuring raw sewage influent, specifying a sludge meter, planning a DMA sub-metering program, or selecting a chemical dosing instrument — describe your fluid, pipe size, and installation condition. We'll return a complete instrument specification within 24 hours.
Response from a technical specialist within 24 hours
Direct manufacturer pricing — no distributor margin