Smart water meter market growing but facing barriers

The global smart water meter market is poised for steady growth in the next five years, reaching nearly 30 million units by 2017, according to Pike Research. That is up nearly 20 million from 2011.

Aging systems, some up to 100 years old, are in dire need of upgrades and greater efficiency. Further, the demand for water itself is increasing and water supply is in need of conservation.

Asia Pacific will account for much of the growth as water metering rises along with rising standards of living and the need to manage the water supply efficiently, according to the report.

Even though smart meters are a logical choice for improving how water systems are managed and billed, they cost more than standard water meters and require additional IT expertise for data collection and management.

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