Water meter assembly installation with filters and regulator

I build water metering assemblies in flats and private houses, and I always work in the same order — from the riser towards the taps, so that every part sits where it actually does its job. The first fitting after the riser branch is a full-bore ball valve: it shuts the line off for any future service and must turn by hand, without a wrench and without force. Right behind it goes an oblique mesh strainer, with the plug pointing down and to the side so it can be opened and the mesh rinsed without dismantling the whole run. That strainer is not a luxury — sand and scale from a shared riser can jam a meter impeller and a check valve within a month.

Next comes the meter itself. I fit it strictly along the flow arrow, keep the straight runs before and after the body, and mount it in the position the model is rated for; many meters only work horizontally, and a 'wherever it fits' installation later turns into a refused acceptance. After the meter I install a check valve, so water cannot travel back into the riser and the reading cannot drift during pressure swings. Where the building suffers from pressure spikes and water hammer, I add a pressure reducing valve with a gauge and set a calm working value: the knocking in the pipes stops, and mixers, flexible hoses and appliance inlet valves last far longer.

Access is part of the design, not an afterthought. The dial has to be readable at a glance, and a spanner has to reach the unions and the valves. If the assembly is boxed in with tiles or plasterboard, I fit an inspection hatch opposite the meters and the shut-off fittings, otherwise the first scheduled meter replacement means breaking the finish. When everything is made up, I pressure test the assembly, hold it under pressure and check every joint for leaks with a dry hand and paper before I call the job done. A usual flat with cold and hot lines takes three to four hours; a branched assembly in a house can take a full working day.

One thing to plan for: shutting the riser down is agreed with the building management company — I file the request and work inside the window they give. Sealing the meters and registering them for billing is done by the utility company under its own procedure: I prepare the assembly for that visit, hand over the data sheets and the work certificate and explain how to file the application, but I never attach seals or enter readings into any database myself.

What the job includes:
— site survey, measurements and a layout for the assembly;
— riser shutdown request and work inside the agreed window;
— valves, strainer, meters and check valves;
— pressure reducing valve with setup where needed;
— pressure test, leak check and preparation for sealing.