ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

WATER METER
DESIGN CRITERIA MANUAL &
SUPPLEMENTARY SPECIFICATONS
JANUARY 2011

Revised December 20, 2013

City of Surrey
TABLE of CONTENTS
Engineering Department
Design Criteria Manual & Supplementary Specifications

Page i
Version, January 2011

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1
INTENT OF THE STANDARDS ............................................................................................. 1
1.0 Water Meter Design Criteria ............................................................................................ 2
1.1 Glossary Of Terms ..............................................................................................................2
1.2 Metering Requirements ........................................................................................................2
A.

Responsibilities ...........................................................................................................2

B.

Timing ......................................................................................................................3

1.3 Meter Sizing Methodology ...................................................................................................3

1.4 Meter Selection ..................................................................................................................4
1.5 Meter Location ...................................................................................................................4
1.6 Meter Configuration ............................................................................................................5
A.

Isolation Valves ..........................................................................................................5

B.

By-pass .....................................................................................................................5

C.

Receptacles ................................................................................................................6

D.

Chambers ..................................................................................................................6

E.

Fire Hydrants..............................................................................................................6

1.7 Submissions .......................................................................................................................6

Supplementary Specifications ................................................................................................... 1

1.0 PRODUCTS........................................................................................................................ 1
2.0 EXECUTION ..................................................................................................................... 4
3.0 SUPPLEMENTARY DETAIL DRAWINGS (APPENDIX B) ...................................... 5

Appendices
APPENDIX A

Water Meter Sizing Calculation Sheet and Example

APPENDIX B

Supplementary Detailed Drawings

City of Surrey
Engineering Department
Design Criteria Manual

WATER METERS

Page 1
Version, January 2011

INTRODUCTION
This document outlines the Citys requirements for the installation of cold-water meters on
municipal water services. It is divided into two separate parts the Design Criteria and the
Supplementary Specifications.

INTENT OF THE STANDARDS

The Design Criteria are intended to provide direction to the Applicant and Applicants Engineer
on the elements required to be considered in the design of new water meter installations. It is
intended to be used in conjunction with the City of Surrey Design Criteria Manual.
The Supplementary Specifications are intended to provide direction to the Applicant and
Applicants Engineer on the specifications that must be incorporated into building servicing
contracts for the installation of new water meters. The Supplementary Specifications are to be
used in conjunction with the City of Surrey Supplementary Specifications document and the City
approved edition of the Master Municipal Construction Document (MMCD).

City of Surrey
Engineering Department
Design Criteria Manual

WATER METERS

1.0

WATER METER DESIGN CRITERIA

1.1

Glossary Of Terms

1.2

Page 2
Version, January 2011

Applicant

Refers to a property Owner, Developer, or authorized agent

who makes an application for connection to a water service.

Applicants Engineer

Refers to a professional engineer hired by the Applicant to

design the installation of the meter.

ASTM

Refers to the American Society for Testing and Materials.

AWWA

Refers to the American Water Works Association.

City

Means the City of Surrey.

CSA

Means the Canadian Standards Association.

Developer

Means person(s) or organization(s) developing property as

per City guidelines.

General Manager,
Engineering

Means the General Manager or their appointed designate of

the Engineering Department of the City;

Owner

Means the property Owner as defined by the latest Surrey

Waterworks Regulation By-law.

Chamber or Pit

Means the below ground meter enclosure.

Metering Requirements
A.

Responsibilities
The Surrey Waterworks Regulation and Charges By-law, 2007, No. 16337 (as
amended) identifies that all new service connections require water meters. For new
connections, the installation of a meter is triggered by an Application for Building
or Plumbing Permit. This requirement for a meter applies to:

connections to a new or existing service;

temporary service connections; and
connections that include an underground irrigation system.

City of Surrey
Engineering Department
Design Criteria Manual

WATER METERS

Page 3
Version, January 2011

For all new connections, the Applicant must supply and install all piping, fittings,
meter chamber(s) / vault(s) and equipment.
The City supplies and installs meters of sizes 19 mm (inch) for single-family and
duplex residential construction. In all other cases, the meter is supplied and
installed by the Applicant.
Backflow prevention devices although not covered within this section are to be
installed in accordance with City of Surrey Cross Connection Control Bylaw, 2007,
No. 16355 (as amended).
B.

Timing
For single family residential dwellings water meter chambers, setters and lids are to
be installed to final grade by the Applicant in advance of the Drainage, Water and
Ventilation Inspection (DWV). Water meters, installed by the City, are to be
installed after the DWV approval but in advance of the Final Plumbing Inspection.
The meter area must be kept free and accessible at all times in order to permit the
installation of the meter.
The Applicant is responsible for the protection of
installation from damage and must repair any damage that occurs to the chamber,
setter, meter, or lid.
For meters servicing other uses the meters must be installed prior to turning on the
water supply to the site.
In the case where a drawing submission is required (see Section G) installation of
the water service, chamber, or meter within private property should not begin prior
to the approval of the drawings.

1.3

Meter Sizing Methodology

For all single family residential homes without fire sprinklers the water meter size shall
be 19mm except in the case where the Applicants Engineer can demonstrate the need for
a larger meter. All other meters should be sized in accordance with AWWA M22 Sizing
Water Service Lines and Meters and form contained in Appendix A. It should be noted
that this methodology is based on the fixture value method and not the fixture unit
method employed in the BC Building Code for piping within buildings.
The maximum operating range for a water meter shall be less than 80% of the maximum
instantaneous flow capacity as outlined by the meter manufacturer, with a maximum
pressure loss of 48 kPa (7 psi) at the design flow rate. The size selection should not
compromise the operating range or the long term life of the meter and must ensure that
pressures supplied to the property are appropriate for the intended use.

City of Surrey
Engineering Department
Design Criteria Manual

WATER METERS

Page 4
Version, January 2011

For developments that are proposed to be phased, the meter chamber and piping must be
sized for the meter required for the ultimate buildout of the development. However, the
initial meter installed must be sized to accurately capture the range of flows for the first
phase.
It is expected that in most cases the water meter size will be at least 1-2 sizes smaller than
the water service connection, providing they meet the size selection criteria. The
Applicants Engineer must ensure the meter selection and installation requirements are
appropriate for the designed application.

1.4

Meter Selection
Only one domestic meter is to be supplied per property unless otherwise approved by the
General Manager, Engineering. The only exception is duplex units where two separate
domestic meters are to be provided.
Only those meters outlined in the Supplementary Specifications will be considered by the
City, unless otherwise approved by the General Manager, Engineering.
Unless otherwise approved a separate fire service line must be supplied to each property
that employs fire sprinklers or onsite fire hydrants. The fire service line must be
equipped with metering technology to detect unauthorized use of water in accordance
with AWWA standards and applicable City and Provincial codes through the use of a
double check detector valve assembly. All other uses that require service from the
potable water system (including domestic, process, and irrigation) must be serviced from
the domestic service line with tees and branches located after the water meter. The
exception to this is for single family residential homes that employ fire sprinklers. In this
case a combined service is acceptable but the meter must not be less than 38mm in size.

1.5

Meter Location
All meters 50mm and smaller must be located at the property line in a chamber in
accordance with the Supplementary Detail Drawings, unless otherwise approved by the
General Manager, Engineering.
For property line installations the meter box or vault must be located on private property
300mm from the property line and 300mm from the shut off. Where the water main is
within private property, in a right-of-way, the meter box or vault should be placed outside
the right-of-way. An area at least 1.0 m horizontal and 2.0m vertical around the meter
box or vault should be free of major landscaping or objects, including shrubs, etc., to
facilitate the future maintenance work of the meter installation. Grading of the area
around the chamber must ensure positive drainage away from the chamber.

City of Surrey
Engineering Department
Design Criteria Manual
1.6

WATER METERS

Page 5
Version, January 2011

Meter Configuration
The general configuration for meter installations has been illustrated in the
Supplementary Detail Drawings. For all non-positive displacement meters 50mm and
larger, configuration details shall be determined by the Applicants Engineer and outlined
in the design drawings.
When the meter is installed within a building the installation should be within reasonable
distance of a floor drain. The floor drain must be suitable sized to accept the high flows
associated with meter testing (25 l/s).
Under no circumstances is a meter to be installed in a bathroom or a bedroom. A space
of at least 1.0 m in front of the meter shall be free of obstruction to allow for convenient
servicing and testing of the meter at all times. No electronic, mechanical and water
sensitive equipment or machinery should be placed or installed under the meter
installation or in an area where splash or flow from the meter settings or pipes could
occur during the servicing of the meter.
For all non-positive displacement meters 50mm and greater adequate straight length pipe
should be provided upstream and downstream of the meter in order to comply with
manufacturers recommendations for maximum accuracy. Bypass tees and isolation gate
valves may be located within the straight length distance in accordance with
manufacturers recommendations. A restrained coupling must be provided on the
downstream side of the meter for flexibility in case of meter removal.
A.

Isolation Valves
Isolation valves, must be in the same chamber as the meter and are required to be
installed upstream and downstream of the meter assembly. All valves, for meters
75mm and larger, with the exception of the lockable bypass must be capable of
being operated above ground without entering the chamber through a cored hole in
the lid.

B.

By-pass
A locking bypass is required to be installed on all 50mm and larger non-positive
displacement meters. The bypass shall be 50mm with the following exceptions:

Combined fire service line meters, where approved, bypasses must be full sized;
and
Facilities with critical flow requirements with bypass sized to ensure impacts
are minimized during meter maintenance.

After testing the installation, the by-pass valve must be closed and sealed by the
installer.

City of Surrey
Engineering Department
Design Criteria Manual

WATER METERS

Page 6
Version, January 2011

By-passes must not be located above the meter in a chamber setting, however,
rotating them 45 degrees is permitted if space governs.
C.

Receptacles
For meters installed at the property line, remote register receptacles must be
mounted in the chamber lid. The remote register must be of the same manufacturer
as the meter.
For inside installations, where approved, wall mounted remote receptacles should
be located approximately 1.2 meters above grade (ground) and easily accessible for
reading. They shall not be located within locked fenced areas. Where possible
these should be located adjacent to gas or electric meters.
All receptacles shall be touch pad technology (digital readouts are not acceptable).

D.

Chambers
Meter chambers, or where specifically approved above ground enclosures, must
meet the requirements of the Supplementary Specifications, and be selected to
provide adequate space for removal and testing of all equipment within the meter.
Access lids, latches, and ladders must comply with the current requirements of the
Workers Compensation Board and provide adequate space for testing and removal
of meters and where applicable backflow prevention devices.
Thrust beams must be designed for all chambers housing equipment 75mm or
larger to ensure that the force caused by a closed valve is transferred to the full
width of the chamber. The Applicants Engineer shall ensure that the chamber
manufacturer is in agreement with the thrust bearing area on the chamber.
All chambers for non-positive displacement meters must be equipped with a sump
and drained by either a gravity connection to the storm sewer or where this is not
possible by an electric sump pump. The Owner is responsible for providing power
to the sump pump in accordance with the BC Electrical Code.

E.

1.7

Fire Hydrants
All on-site hydrants must be located after the site premise back flow prevention
device.

Submissions
Plans must be submitted by the Applicant as part of the plumbing permit application for
all meter installations. This application must be accompanied by a site plan that includes:

City of Surrey
Engineering Department
Design Criteria Manual
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.

WATER METERS

Page 7
Version, January 2011

Scale (1:500 Site Plan, 1:250 Chamber Layout)

Location of meter chamber relative to overall site development plan (dimensioned
from property corner)
Future phasing of the project
Meter size, type, and Manufacturer
Demand flow calculations/requirements in accordance with Appendix A (for
meters larger than 50mm)
Chamber drain type
Site specifics (ie. building use type and specifics)
Onsite fire system (hydrants, fire sprinklers)
Irrigation systems

For all non-positive displacement meter installations 50mm and larger, the Applicants
Engineer must provide detailed sealed drawings and shop drawings of the installation and
relevant calculations, to demonstrate the appropriateness of the sizing of the meter, for
approval prior to installing the meter.

City of Surrey
Engineering Department
Supplementary Specifications

WATER METERS

Page SS-1
Version, January 2011

SUPPLEMENTARY SPECIFICATIONS
1.0

PRODUCTS

1.1

Water Meters

.1 Unless a variation is justified, the City will only accept approved

makes and models of meters for all metering applications
including double check detector meters. In all cases of variation,
approval must be obtained from the General Manager,
Engineering to use a different type of meter. All meters must be
new. Used or reconditioned meters are not acceptable. All meters
must meet the following requirements:

Must meet appropriate AWWA standards

Must be capable of 95% accuracy at low flows less than or
equal to 0.95 l/min (0.25 usgpm)
Must utilize a single register on all meter types

.2 Displacement meter base plates shall be cast iron. Meters 38 mm

(1 inches) and larger in diameter must have bolt flanged ends.
Table 1 Acceptable Meters
Manufacturer
Model
1
Sensus
SRII
SR1 (50mm only)
iPERL
OMNI C22
Neptune

T-101

Elster

C-7001

1. Approved for use on detector check valves.

2. Approved for residential combined fire service.
NOTE: Alternate meters may be accepted but must be
approved by the General Manager, Engineering.
1.2

Registers

.1 Meters must have encoder-type remote-registration conforming to

the latest version of AWWA C707. Registers using generator pulses
or low voltage conversions are not permitted. Power requirement
for data transmission must be supplied by an interrogation device.
Registers must be compatible with interrogation equipment
supplied by Sensus, Neptune and Logicon.

City of Surrey
Engineering Department
Supplementary Specifications

WATER METERS

Page SS-2
Version, January 2011

.2 The register must provide at least six-digit visual registration at the

meter. The units must be registered in cubic meters (m3). The
units, the month and year of manufacture, and other identification
information must clearly be printed on the face of the register. The
register must also have a full test sweep hand or dial.
.3 The register must, in a digital format, simultaneously encode at
least six significant digits of the meter reading for transmission
through the remotely located receptacle. A meter identification
number must also be provided with each reading. For the purposes
of billing, electronic registration must return registration (meter
read) to the nearest cubic meter.
.4 All registers must be programmed with a multiplier of 1.0.
.5 All registers must be provided with factory podded moisture
protection for internal components suitable for operation in
flooded or humid pit/chamber conditions.
.6 All registers for meters 75mm and larger must have integral data
logging capabilities. Battery life must be guaranteed for a
minimum of 10 years.
1.3

Remote
Receptacles

.1 Remote receptacles must either be wall or pit mount style. Remote

receptacles must not include a remote display. There must be no
data storage or power source in the remote receptacle.
.2 The materials employed must be corrosion resistant, resistant to
ultraviolet degradation, unaffected by rain or condensation, and
compatible with rugged service and expected life.
.3 Wall mounted receptacles must be designed for terminal screw
connection after being fastened to the wall.
.4 Excess wire must be looped and mounted on the wall adjacent to
the meter.
.5 Design of the unit must be such that it provides for mechanical and
electrical connection between the receptacle and interrogation
equipment. Interrogation must be achieved by inductive coupling
without physical connection of the reading device.
.6 The location where the receptacle is mounted should freely be
accessible by the meter reader/City Staff.

City of Surrey
Engineering Department
Supplementary Specifications

1.4

Radios

WATER METERS

Page SS-3
Version, January 2011

.1 Where radio read technology is approved by the City for

installation the radios must be capable of communicating with
registers supplied by Sensus, Neptune and Elster.
.2 Radios must be capable of being read by a drive by unit or fixed
based system.

1.5

Pipe and Fittings .1 Connections 75mm (3inches) in diameter and greater must be
restrained to the City water main.
.2 All pipe material within chambers shall be ductile iron, Schedule
80 PVC, C900 PVC, polyethylene or Type K copper. All products
must be approved for potable water application. All joints within
the chamber must be restrained (ie. Flanged, glued, welded,
threaded).

1.6

Valves

.1 Valves, except for lockable bypass valves, up to 50mm (2 inches)

in diameter must meet AWWA C800, and must have bronze case
with National Pipe Threaded (NPT), soldered, compression type or
flange connections. Valves may be ball or cylinder type using
rubber o-ring seals. Actuation is to be by a curb-stop-style
operating nut. All bypass valves must have a lock wing on the
operating nut and the case. Valves over 50mm in diameter on
domestic service must be ductile iron, resilient seat, with nonrising stem (NRS), gate valves with flanged ends, and must meet
AWWA C509. Stem seal to be o-ring type. Actuation of valves
must be accessible by a valve key from the surface by a standard
50mm square-operating nut.
In all possible and appropriate
instances a Nelson style valve box must be installed over buried
valves. The only exception is where the buried valves are located
within the driveway in which case a Brookes 37 box or approved
equal is to be employed.
All valves on fire service lines must comply with NFPA and Fire
Code requirements.
.2 All 50mm by-pass valves must be brass (inside) or stainless steel
(chamber) with locking lever (MA Stewart or approved equal).

1.7

Flange Adaptors .1 Flange adapters for 38mm (1 inches) to 200mm (8 inches) sizes
must conform to AWWA C219.

City of Surrey
Engineering Department
Supplementary Specifications

WATER METERS

Page SS-4
Version, January 2011

.1 Bolts and nuts must be stainless steel - to ASTM F-599 or F-731

for bolts, and ASTM F-574 or F-836 for heavy hex nuts. Threads,
fit, and dimension must conform to AWWA C111.

1.8

Bolts and Nuts

1.9

Meter Chambers .1 Meter pits and vaults must be pre-cast chambers or where
specifically approved by the General Manager, Engineering
heated stainless steel or fibreglass enclosures on concrete pads.
.2 Lids/covers must be capable of withstanding H-20 static loading
(except where lids are located in travelling surfaces where H-20
dynamic loading applies) and be equipped with 45mm (1
inches) holes for mounting the remote receptacles. These holes
must be sealed until the installation of the receptacles. Lids for
positive displacement or residential magnetic meters must be cast
iron with hole for touch pad. Lids for non-positive displacement
meter installations must be aluminum spring assisted and divided
into multiple sections where the dimensions exceed 900mm in any
direction. Manhole access is not acceptable unless approved by
the General Manager, Engineering.
.3 Exterior of all chambers must be damp proofed by applying an
asphalt emulsion coating to all exterior surfaces. Construction
joints must be made water tight with an appropriate sealant. All
pipe entrances on the vault must be sealed and waterproof.

2.0

EXECUTION

2.1

Meter
Installation

.1 Meters must be installed horizontally with the register casing

plumb, facing upward. For single family residential dwellings the
meter should be centered as much as possible in the chamber.
.2 Meters, valves, and bypasses should be supported with appropriate
steel pipe stands. Meter installations must be checked for leakage
at completion of the installation. Assembly should be flushed and
air must be eliminated from the system. By running water through
the meter and performing a visual check of the low-flow indicator,
the proper operation of the meter should be established.
.3 For all temporary connections, meters are required and must be
installed at the upstream end of the connection.
.4 Insulation blankets must be installed for all single family
installations.

City of Surrey
Engineering Department
Supplementary Specifications
2.2

Receptacle
Installation

WATER METERS

Page SS-5
Version, January 2011

.1 Wall mounted remote receptacles must be located where possible

near the gas or electric meter approximately 1.2 meters above
grade (ground) and easily accessible for reading. The
communication cable (wire) from the meter to the receptacle must
be installed in accordance with the manufacturers instructions and
must not exceed recommended length. Cable must be run neatly in
horizontal or vertical directions only, in an approved casing or
duct. Buried casing/duct should be at least 600mm deep. A drilled
10mm (3/8 inch) diameter hole, sealed with sealing compound, at
external face of the receptacle must be provided.
.2 For meters installed at the property line, remote register
receptacles must be mounted in the meter box or chamber lid
according to the manufacturers instructions. Pit (chamber)
mounted receptacles must be mounted to the meter box lid in a
single 45mm (1 inches) hole. The pit mounted receptacle(s)
must be provided with a minimum length of 1800mm (6 feet) of
22-gauge three-colour (red, green, black) wire, connected and
sealed at the receptacle without terminal exposure. Remote wiring
connections must either be factory or field sealed to ensure
waterproof connections.

3.0

SUPPLEMENTARY DETAIL DRAWINGS (APPENDIX B)

.1 SSD-WM1 Meter Chamber Schematic for Meters 25mm Diameter
and Smaller
.2 SSD-WM2 Meter Chamber Schematic for 38mm and 50mm
Positive Displacement

City of Surrey
WATER METERS
Engineering Department
Design Criteria Manual & Supplementary Specifications

Appendix A
Page 1
Version, January 2011

Appendix A Water Meter Sizing Calculation Sheet and Example

Page 1/3

Water Meter Sizing Calculation Sheet

For Non-Fire Service Meters
Methodology: AWWA M22

Customer Name:
Address:
PID Number:
BP Number:

Project Number:
Type of Occupancy:

Multifamily

Institutional

Commercial

Other

Industrial

No. of Strata Units

Is this a Phased Development:

Yes

No

Calculations Presented Below are for:

Phase __

Buildout

Seperate calculations must be provided for both current phase and buildout

Step 1. Calculate Customer Total Fixture Values

Fixture

Bathtub
Bedpan Washers
Bidet
Dental Unit
Dishwasher
Drinking Fountain - Public
Hose Bibs (c/w 50 ft Wash Down)
- 1/2 inch
- 5/8 inch
- 3/4 inch
Kitchen Sink
Lavatory
Showerhead (Shower only)
Service Sink
Toilet
- Flush Valve
- Tank Type
Urinal
- Pedestal Flush Valve
-Wall Flush Valve
Wash Sink (Each Set of Faucets)
Washing Machine
Other:

Fixture Value (gpm)

No. of

Fixture

@ 414 kPa (60 psi)

Fixtures

Value (gpm)

8
10
2
2
2
2

X
X
X
X
X
X

=
=
=
=
=
=

5
9
12
2.2
1.5
2.5
4

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

=
=
=
=
=
=
=

35
4

X
X

=
=

35
16
4
6

X
X
X
X

=
=
=
=

X
X
X
X

=
=
=
=

Combined Fixture Value Total

gpm (A)

Revised: 10-01-2013

Page 2/3

PID Number:

Step 2. Calculate Customer Unadjusted Peak Demand

Customer Peak Demand From Fig. 4-2 or 4-3

gpm (B)

Step 3. Apply Pressure Adjustment Factor for Domestic Demand

The pressure on the discharge side of the pressure reducing valve (PRV) or booster pump (if applicable see
required additional information) shall be applied if a PRV or booster pump exists inside the property.
____ kPa (____ psi) Pressure Factor From Table 4.1
Customer Adjusted Peak Demand (B X C)

(C)

gpm (D)

gpm (E)

Step 4. Confirm Underground Irrigation Demand

Total Irrigation Flow

Larger irrigation areas should be divided into zones with a maximum irrigation flow of 50 gpm.
If the irrigation flow is greater than 50 gpm, the Applicant's Engineer shall provide a detailed irrigation plan
with appropriately designed zones.

Step 5. Confirm Design Flow

Design Flow (Greater of D & E)

gpm (F)

Step 6. Size and Select Water Meter

Meter size based on ( F < 80% of Meter Rated Peak Instantaneous Flow)
Meter size based on maximum 48 kPa (7 psi) presssure drop at Design Flow

mm (G)
mm (H)
mm

Water Meter Size (Greater of G & H)

Water Meter Make & Model:
Inside or Outside Installation
(2" (50mm) and smaller meters must be located outside at property line)

mm

Water Service Connection Size (for information)

Water Meter Sizing Professional Certification

Name:
Company:

Created Date:
Revised Date:

Comments:

Revised: 10-01-2013

Page 3/3

PID Number:

Required Additional Information (if applicable):

A) Booster pump demand
The Applicant's Engineer shall provide the duty point of the pump including the typical operating flow and pressure
on the discharge side of the pump.
Typical Operating Booster Pump Flow =
Booster Pump Discharge Pressure =

gpm
psi

Typical operating flows and discharge pressures shall be provided for each and every pump
for property's containing multiple buildings.
Note: The City may request pump specifications and design information for confirmation
purposes if the flow indicated above is significantly greater than the domestic demand.
B) Storage Tanks
Is there a storage tank on the property:

Yes

No

Revised: 10-01-2013

City of Surrey
WATER METERS
Engineering Department
Design Criteria Manual & Supplementary Specifications

Appendix B
Page 1
Version, January 2011

Appendix B Supplementary Detailed Drawings

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NOTES:

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