In many parts of the U.S. and the rest of the world, lack of rain and insufficient water supply is a serious issue. In such conditions, there is no room for overusing water. This means that water use has to be monitored closely! This is especially relevant and important around Earth Day. One way to keep track of how much water you are using is through the use of a flow meter.
Flow meters are an extremely important piece of equipment. The flow meter you may be most familiar with is the one attached to your home that measures how much water your entire household uses. A good way to think of flow meters is like the speedometer in your car. You use the speedometer to measure how long it will take to get somewhere, to estimate how much gas mileage you are getting, and to set your cruise control. In the same way that a speedometer is vital to driving, a flow meter is vital to piping. This is especially true in sprinkler and irrigation systems.
Flow meters can measure how much water passes through a pipeline. As water flows through the system, the flow meter gives a volume reading. Our flow meters measure in gallons and liters per minute. Because it is on a per minute basis, any slight changes in fluid pressure can be quickly detected. Flow meters allow you to give an actual numerical measurement to the amount of water you really need to be using. This will help prevent extravagant and wasteful water use.
Flow meters are helpful for knowing how much water you use, but they can be also used to identify leaks. One of the biggest ways water is wasted and overused is through unnoticed leaks. Leaks occur when pipelines are broken or not properly sealed. If your water pressure fluctuates irregularly, you may have a leak. While flow meters can help identify whether or not there is a leak, they do not tell you where the leak is. That still has to be done manually, unfortunately.
If you want to conserve water, a flow meter is an absolute necessity. You cannot set goals to use less of something without measuring it! If you are watering a large area through an irrigation system, you can try lowering the flow of water to see how much water the area actually needs. Through some trial and error, you will find the sweet spot at which the area is receiving just as much water as it needs. If you don't have a flow meter, it will be impossible to reliably replicate that amount of water. If you do, however, it only takes one look at the meter to see exactly how much water your are using and easily replicate it. This means a consistent watering schedule and minimal water waste.
Here at PVC Fittings Online, we provide a wide selection of inexpensive flow meters for anyone who is interested in setting smart and effective water usage goals. This Earth Day, keep in mind how much water you use! It's a simple way to care about this planet we all share.
