[[Image:meter icon.png|right|100px80px]]
[[Image:domestic water meter.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Domestic water meter. Drawing: WHO.]]
[[Image:standpipe meter.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A standpipe water meter that runs on hydropower. Photo: [http://www.tagmeter.com/index.php/de/water-meters Tagmeter.com]]]
[[Image:standpipe meter2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A standpipe water meter in use. Photo: [http://www.tagmeter.com/index.php/de/water-meters Tagmeter.com]]]
[[Image:water meter urban.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Water meters in urban Manila, Philippines. Photo: [http://www.unesco-ihe.org/Education/MSc-Programmes/MSc-in-Urban-Water-and-Sanitation unesco-ihe.org.]]]
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Water meters, in combination with public standposts or domestic connections, provide the means to charge fees according to the volume of water delivered, and to regulate water use via tariffs. Water meters consist of a device to measure flow, and a protective housing with an inlet and an outlet. A strainer over the inlet keeps larger particles out of the system. There are many types of water meter, but for ordinary domestic or public standpipe use, turbine meters are most common. The vane wheel and the counting device of a water meter can be coupled magnetically or directly. Magnetic coupling has the advantage that the counting device can be completely sealed and no water, silt or algae will get in. A shut-off valve is normally installed on both sides of the meter to allow for servicing.
'''Flow range:''' 0.005–1.5 litres for domestic use.
===Suitable conditions===
'''Area of use:''' Piped public water distribution systems.
===Construction, operations and maintenance===
'''Manufacturers:''' Biesinger; Bosco; Kent; Schlumberger; Spanner Pollux; Valmet, etc.
— some meter counters are more difficult to read than others, which can be a problem for both user and meter reader, and may require good skills on the part of the reader.
===Costs===
'''Initial cost:''' From US$ 10–25 or more, not including installation costs.
===Field experiences===
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===Manuals, videos, and links===
* Commercial: [http://www.tagmeter.com/index.php/de/water-meters Prepaid residential meter, domestic meter, household meter.] Tagmeter Systems
===Acknowledgements===
* Brikke, François, and Bredero, Maarten. [http://www.washdoc.info/docsearch/title/117705 Linking technology choice with operation and maintenance in the context of community water supply and sanitation: A reference document for planners and project staff]. World Health Organization and IRC Water and Sanitation Centre. Geneva, Switzerland 2003.