Manual of Water Supply Practices

M22

Sizing Water Service

Lines and Meters

Third Edition

Copyright © 2014 American Water Works Association. All Rights Reserved.

 Contents

List of Figures, v
List of Tables, vii
Preface, ix
Acknowledgments, xi
Chapter 1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Overview, 1
M22 Target Audience, 1
Updates, 1
AWWA Manuals Related to Metering and Service Lines, 5
Chapter 2 Consumer Water Demands, Trends, and Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Introduction, 7
Water-Use Trends, 8
Water Use Patterns, 10
References, 12
Chapter 3 Meter Sizing Using Customer Usage Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Accurately Measuring Customer Usage, 13
Recorder Design, 15
Recording Data, 22
Using Customer Usage Data, 25
Reference, 27
Chapter 4 Estimating Demands Using Fixture Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Introduction, 29
Using the Modified Fixture-Value Method, 37
References, 44
Chapter 5 Sizing Service Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Introduction, 45
Data Required, 46
Head Loss, 48
Performing Sizing Calculations, 59
References, 65
Chapter 6 Sizing and Type Selection for the Customer’s Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Introduction, 67
Revenue Implications, 67
System Components Policy Review, 68
Water Meter Selection, 69
Meter Arrangements for Fire Services, 74
Summary, 75
References, 75
Appendix A, 77
Appendix B, 83

AWWA Manual M22 iii

Copyright © 2014 American Water Works Association. All Rights Reserved.

SIZING WATER SERVICE LINES AND METERS

Index, 109
List of Manuals, 119

iv AWWA Manual M22

Copyright © 2014 American Water Works Association. All Rights Reserved.

 AWWA MANuAL

M22

Chapter 1

Introduction

OVERVIEW
This is the third edition of AWWA Manual M22, Sizing Water Service Lines and Meters. The
first edition was printed in 1975, and the second edition was printed in 2004. This new edi-
tion expands the ways to approach the sizing of water service lines and meters and offers
improved methods for the sizing of dedicated irrigation meters.

M22 TARGET AUDIENCE

This manual is intended for use by
• Water utility managers
• Engineers
• Planners
• Technicians and field operations personnel
• Consultants involved with designing and constructing projects requiring water
service
• Academicians

UPDATES
When the first edition (1975) of M22 was written, the primary guideline for projecting
water demands was the fixture value method, which conservatively projected water
demands based on then-existing fixtures and appliances. This method emphasized iden-
tifying the worst-case instantaneous peak demand that could occur for a given water

Copyright © 2014 American Water Works Association. All Rights Reserved.

2  SIZING WATER SERVICE LINES AND METERS

account. In the last 40 years, fixtures, appliances, irrigation demands, and their implica-
tions for both meter and service-line sizing have changed drastically. The second edi-
tion (2004) of M22 included methods for developing locally specific demand profiles to
enable meters and service lines to be sized based on current, local conditions that reflect
changes in water use patterns that have occurred. This third edition (2014) expands on the
2004 approach and provides recommendations for future research that will systematically
evaluate water demands for the purpose of more accurate meter sizing. A summary of the
changes and recommendations is presented in the following sections for consideration in
using Manual M22.

Summary of Content
This edition of M22 focuses on how to identify water demand patterns to accurately mea-
sure real demands and provides necessary information for final meter and line sizing
decisions. Fortunately, water utilities seeking to right-size meters and service lines need
not rely on old and potentially inaccurate data and methods. This manual emphasizes
that utilities having more information about a specific sizing situation will result in the
best sizing decision from the tap to the meter. The authors recognize that the water utili-
ties and professionals who may be using this manual have varying degrees of familiarity
regarding their local water demand patterns and peak demand profiles. This document is
structured to encourage water utilities and water professionals to study and understand
their own local water demands, to provide methods to identify real-time peak-demand
requirements, and, with this knowledge, to approach sizing decisions and policies with
adequate and current information.
The manual concludes with guidelines and tools for making meter and service-line
sizing decisions. The manual also includes techniques for sizing both new meters and
existing meters, which may need to be resized because of changing conditions or ini-
tial sizing decisions. These techniques may differ in particular for existing meters where
accurate, real-time demand flow profile data can be collected to enhance meter sizing
decisions.

Chapter 2: Consumer Water Demands, Trends, and Considerations

The manual is structured to establish water demand as the fundamental factor to con-
sider when sizing water service lines and meters. Currently, more is known and under-
stood about general water demand patterns and peak demands because of the increasing
focus on demand management in the water industry. Many water demand studies have
been conducted in recent years that indicate distinctly different water demand patterns
between and among various user classes, land uses, and geographic regions. For example,
peak demands can vary greatly depending on the regional location (e.g., semi-arid West
versus the more temperate Northeast) and seasonal variation of a particular location. Some
water service areas contain several microclimates, which may impact sizing decisions.
This chapter introduces a sampling of typical demand patterns in different utilities.
Each water utility is encouraged to study its own customer water-use patterns to reflect
any regional or local conditions that may influence sizing decisions or policies in its area.
Water professionals will benefit from comparing sizing policies and decisions between
water utilities with similar climates or service characteristics.

Chapter 3: Demand Profiling for Optimal Meter Sizing

In addition to better understanding general water demand patterns in a particular locale,
measuring real-time peak demands may be an option when sizing both water service
lines and meters. Chapter 3 reviews equipment and technology that are available to help

AWWA Manual M22

Copyright © 2014 American Water Works Association. All Rights Reserved.

 Introduction 3

water utilities and their constituencies better understand typical peak demand patterns
and how water is used in their systems. The chapter also reviews how demand measure-
ment equipment measures real-time peak demands and outlines general guidelines for
using this equipment for meter sizing purposes. Several hundred utilities actively collect
and use demand profile information to improve sizing decisions. Many water utilities
have used demand profile information to downsize meters, reduce nonrevenue water, and
bill for service more equitably in their water system. More equitable billing is achieved by
right-sizing a higher percentage of meters so that water charges more accurately reflect
water used. Current technology is helping water professionals to better understand the
water demand conditions that are embedded in sizing decisions.

Chapter 4: Estimating Demands Using Fixture Values

To properly size water taps, meters, and service lines, the peak demands must be known for
any specific tap. Chapter 4 reviews the best available methods. The fixture value method
is still useful in cases in which demand profile data are not available or applicable. The
method proposed in this chapter uses the first and second edition M22 tables and graphs
but includes more current fixture values based on an operating pressure of 60 psi (414 kPa).
The Distribution and Plant Operations Division members of AWWA have been collecting
empirical measurements to generate a family of demand curves to replace the demand
curves generated by Hunter’s fixture unit approach. Both approaches are described in
chapter 4 along with a method for sizing dedicated irrigation meters based on flow veloc-
ity limits recommended by the Irrigation Association.

Chapter 5: Service-Line Sizing

There is a distinction between service-line sizing decisions and meter sizing decisions.
Service lines must be able to meet the instantaneous peak demand of a particular account
and any possible successor account, preferably without impacting the level of water ser-
vice to the customer. Meter sizing must primarily consider the accurate measurement for
all expected flow ranges for the current account to ensure accurate billing of consumption.
The difference is that the service line should be more conservatively sized in general (as
local conditions warrant).
This chapter provides the framework for local water utilities to ensure service lines
are sized to meet peak demands while considering all relevant factors, including system
pressure, line size, material, head loss, elevation changes, and type of use. Sample calcu-
lations are included as a guideline to assist the users in their own calculations. Pipe flow
friction loss tables are also included in appendix B.

Chapter 6: Meter Sizing

This chapter provides an overview of meter sizing criteria that could be considered in the
sizing decision. The meter sizing process is discussed and outlined to ensure a thorough
evaluation. Sample calculations are introduced for the fixture value method and for using
real-time peak-demand profile data and are included as a guideline for engineers and
others to use for local sizing decisions. Properly collected demand profile data can be an
effective tool to size existing meters for specific conditions, but the fixture value method
is often the best approach for new services.

Considerations When Sizing Water Meters and Service Lines

The following changes highlight the need to continually improve and update sizing
methods.

AWWA Manual M22

Copyright © 2014 American Water Works Association. All Rights Reserved.

4  SIZING WATER SERVICE LINES AND METERS

Changes in Technology
Current water meters are technological products with high-tech reading capabilities.
Technology exists to collect real-time water demand data (demand profiling). Technologi-
cal changes have resulted in a more accurate characterization of actual water demand pat-
terns by various user classes than was previously possible using fixture counts or monthly
meter readings. Utilities can leverage these technological changes to customize meter and
service line sizing based on relevant local information.

Demand Pattern Changes

Demand management has been institutionalized through national energy and water effi-
ciency standards and codes and wider acceptance of water use efficiency. The result is that
overall demands have decreased below those assumed in the fixture value method, and it
is necessary to revise the fixture value method using modern data sets. This is an essential
task that should be completed before the next update of this manual.

Policy Changes in Water Rate and Connection Fees

Water rate charges and connection fees are based on the meter size and service line size.
As a result, sizing decisions are critical, and life-cycle cost and benefit implications from
both the utility and customer perspective have heightened relevance.
Some utilities have separated meter sizing from the connection fee process. These
utilities use demand-based approaches to connection fees and infrastructure charges for
new customers. These approaches are independent of the meter and service line size and
enable the utility and customer to focus on the expected annual demands at the site rather
than the peak instantaneous demands needed for meter sizing.
Additionally, some combined water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities have
removed the stormwater charge from the base, or fixed, charge in order to bill proper-
ties in a tailored fashion based on their land characteristics or stormwater management
practices. Thus, the fixed charge based on meter size has decreased in these utilities. This
trend may have an additional benefit in the case of oversized meters. Historically, some
utilities lacked motivation to downsize oversized meters to obtain better low-flow accu-
racy because a higher fixed charge could be obtained from the larger meter. With a smaller
fixed charge based on meter size, water utilities may be motivated to replace oversized
meters with an optimally sized meter.

Growing Use of Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems

Jurisdictions have long had the opportunity to adopt requirements for residential fire
sprinkler systems as prescribed under the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
13D Standard. While hundreds of local jurisdictions in the United States have done just
that, the inclusion of a residential fire sprinkler requirement under the NFPA 13D Stan-
dard in the International Residential Code in 2009 spurred state-level requirements to
implement these systems in the United States. Thus, the use of residential fire sprinkler
systems is growing, and many water utilities need guidance to assist them in creating
their own policies, procedures, and regulations regarding the use of these systems.
The design approaches for residential fire sprinkler systems include many unique
aspects that differ from the traditional fire connections to commercial, industrial, and
multi-unit residential buildings. For instance, while traditional fire-protection systems for
commercial and industrial buildings are usually designed under the NFPA 13 or NFPA 13R
Standard and frequently require a separate and distinct line for the fire supply, residen-
tial fire sprinkler systems under the NFPA 13D Standard provide several design options,

AWWA Manual M22

Copyright © 2014 American Water Works Association. All Rights Reserved.

 Introduction 5

including separate fire lines or a single, multi-purpose line that provides both the domes-
tic water supply and fire supply from the water main. While this publication does not pro-
vide detailed design guidance on residential fire sprinkler systems, it identifies important
implications of these systems to service line and meter sizing, and identifies appropriate
references for readers to seek detailed guidance.

AWWA MANUALS RELATED TO METERING AND SERVICE LINES

AWWA publishes several manuals of water supply practices that are focused on water
meters and service lines. Manual M22 is one of a suite of manuals that form AWWA’s
core metering and service line guidance documents. A brief summary of AWWA manuals
related to metering is presented below.
• M1, Principles of Water Rates, Fees, and Charges, sixth edition (2012)—­provides
financial managers, water policymakers, and rate analysts with relevant informa-
tion needed to evaluate and select water rate structures, fees, charges, and pricing
policies.
• M6, Water Meters: Selection, Installation, Testing, and Maintenance, fifth
edition (2012)—provides a complete manual of practice for water utilities on the
selection, installation, operation, and maintenance of customer water meters and
also provides sample record-keeping forms, a history of water-use measurement,
and the development of modern water meters. M6 is heavily illustrated with pho-
tos, diagrams, and performance requirements. 
• M33, Flowmeters in Water Supply, second edition (2006)— describes in detail
the design and operation of commonly used flowmeters in water systems.

AWWA Manual M22

Copyright © 2014 American Water Works Association. All Rights Reserved.